Plasma reactor with a multiple zone thermal control feed forward control apparatus

ABSTRACT

A plasma reactor having a reactor chamber and an electrostatic chuck having a surface for holding a workpiece inside the chamber includes inner and outer zone backside gas pressure sources coupled to the electrostatic chuck for applying a thermally conductive gas under respective pressures to respective inner and outer zones of a workpiece-surface interface formed whenever a workpiece is held on the surface, and inner and outer zone heat exchangers coupled to respective inner and outer zones of said electrostatic chuck. The reactor further includes inner and outer zone temperature sensors in inner and outer zones of the electrostatic chuck and a thermal model capable of simulating heat transfer through the inner and outer zones, respectively, between the evaporator and the surface based upon measurements from the inner and outer temperature sensors, respectively. Inner and outer zone agile control processors coupled to the thermal model govern the inner and outer zone backside gas pressure sources, respectively, in response to predictions from the model of changes in the respective pressures that would bring the temperatures measured by the inner and outer zone sensors, respectively, closer to a desired temperature.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/729,314, filed Oct. 20, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a capacitively coupled plasma reactor, control over dissociation hasbeen achieved with a wide impedance match space at very high RF sourcepower over a very wide chamber pressure range. Such a wide operatingrange is attributable, at least in part, to a unique feature of theoverhead electrode matched to the RF power source by a fixed impedancematching stub with the following features. First, the electrodecapacitance is matched to the plasma reactance at a plasma-electroderesonant frequency. The stub resonant frequency, the plasma-electroderesonant frequency and the source frequency are nearly matched at a VHFfrequency. A highly uniform etch rate across the wafer is attainedthrough a number of features. These features include, among otherthings, the adjustment of the bias power feedpoint impedance on theelectrostatic chuck to provide a radially uniform RF impedance acrossthe chuck for both its role as an RF bias power applicator and as an RFreturn for the VHF source power from the overhead electrode. Thisadjustment is made by dielectric sleeves around the bias feed line ofuniquely selected dielectric constants and lengths. Another feature is adielectric ring process kit for the cathode periphery to combat edgeeffects. Other features that can further improve process or etch ratedistribution uniformity include dual zone gas feeding, curving of theoverhead electrode and plasma steering magnetic fields. A plasma reactorthat includes many of these key features provides an etch ratedistribution uniformity that surpasses the conventional art.

With rapid shrinking of circuit feature sizes, the requirements for etchrate distribution uniformity are so stringent that small temperaturevariations across the wafer must now be minimized or eliminated, withthe added proviso that future sophisticated process recipes designed tomeet the latest stringent requirements will require agile and highlyaccurate time-changing wafer temperature profiling, and/or RF heat loadprofiling. Such changes must be effected or compensated with thegreatest temperature uniformity across the wafer. How to do all thiswithout degrading the now highly uniform etch rate distributioncurrently afforded by the reactor is a difficult problem. Moreover, suchhighly accurate and agile temperature control or profiling requiresaccurate temperature sensing at the wafer. However, introduction oftemperature probes near the wafer will create parasitic RF fields whichdistort the fine effects of the feed-point impedance dielectric sleevesand the dielectric ring process kit, defeating their purpose.Temperature non-uniformities at the wafer arising from lack of control,to the extent that they impact the etch chemistry, will have the sameultimate effect of distorting an otherwise uniform environment.

Conventional cooling systems for regulating the temperature of the wafersupport pedestal or electrostatic chuck employ a refrigeration systemthat cools a refrigerant or coolant medium using a conventional thermalcycle and transfers heat between the coolant and the electrostatic chuckthrough a separate liquid heat transfer medium. The coolant may be amixture of deionized water with other substances such as glycol and (or)perfluoropolyethers. One problem with such systems is that, at high RFpower levels (high RF bias power or high RF source power or both), suchcooling systems allow the wafer temperature to drift (increase) for asignificant period before stabilizing after the onset of RF power. Suchtemperature drift has two phases. In a brief initial phase, theelectrostatic chuck is at an ambient (cold) temperature when RF power isfirst applied, so that the temperature of the first wafer to beintroduced climbs rapidly toward equilibrium as the RF heat load slowlyheats the chuck. This is undesirable because the wafer temperature risesuncontrollably during processing. Even after the electrostatic chuck(ESC) has been heated by the RF heat load, the wafer temperature driftsupwardly and slowly approaches an equilibrium temperature. Such driftrepresents a lack of control over wafer temperature, and degrades theprocess. The drift is caused by the inefficiency of the conventionalcooling process.

Another problem is that rapid temperature variations between twotemperature levels cannot be carried out for two reasons. First, theheat transfer fluid that provides thermal transfer between the ESC andthe coolant has a heat propagation time that introduces a significantdelay between the time a temperature change is initiated in therefrigeration loop and the time that the wafer actually experiences thetemperature change. Secondly, there is a heat propagation time delaybetween the cooled portion of the ESC base and the wafer at the top ofthe ESC, this time delay being determined by the mass and heat capacityof the materials in the ESC.

One of the most difficult problems is that under high RF heat load onthe wafer requiring high rates of thermal transfer through the cooledESC, the thermal transfer fluid temperature changes significantly as itflows through the fluid passages within the ESC, so that temperaturedistribution across the ESC (and therefore across the wafer) becomesnon-uniform. Such non-uniformities have not presented a significantproblem under older design rules (larger semiconductor circuit featuresizes) because etch rate uniformity across the wafer diameter was not ascritical at the earlier (larger) feature sizes/design rules. However,the current feature sizes have dictated the extremely uniform electricfields across the ESC achieved by the features described above (e.g., RFbias feedpoint impedance adjustment, process kit dielectric edge rings).However, the high RF heat loads, dictated by some of the latest plasmaetch process recipes, cause temperature non-uniformities across thewafer diameter (due to sensible heating of the thermal transfer fluidwithin the ESC) that distort an otherwise uniform etch rate distributionacross the wafer. It has seemed that this problem cannot be avoidedwithout limiting the RF power applied to the wafer. However, as etchrate uniformity requirements become more stringent in the future,further reduction in RF power limits to satisfy such requirements willproduce more anemic process results, which will ultimately beunacceptable. Therefore, there is a need for a way of extracting heatfrom the wafer under high RF heat load conditions without introducingtemperature non-uniformities across the ESC or across the wafer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A plasma reactor having a reactor chamber and an electrostatic chuckhaving a surface for holding a workpiece inside the chamber includesinner and outer zone backside gas pressure sources coupled to theelectrostatic chuck for applying a thermally conductive gas underrespective pressures to respective inner and outer zones of aworkpiece-surface interface formed whenever a workpiece is held on thesurface, and inner and outer evaporators inside respective inner andouter zones of the electrostatic chuck and a refrigeration loop havingrespective inner and outer expansion valves for controlling flow ofcoolant through the inner and outer evaporators respectively. Thereactor further includes inner and outer zone temperature sensors ininner and outer zones of the electrostatic chuck and a thermal modelcapable of simulating heat transfer through the inner and outer zones,respectively, between the evaporator and the surface based uponmeasurements from the inner and outer temperature sensors, respectively.Inner and outer zone agile control processors coupled to the thermalmodel govern the inner and outer zone backside gas pressure sources,respectively, in response to predictions from the model of changes inthe respective pressures that would bring the temperatures measured bythe inner and outer zone sensors, respectively, closer to a desiredtemperature.

The reactor can further include inner and outer zone large range controlprocessors coupled to the thermal model and governing the inner andouter zone expansion valves, respectively, in response to predictionsfrom the model of changes thermal conditions in or near the inner andouter zone evaporators, respectively, that would bring the temperaturesmeasured by the inner and outer zone sensors closer to a desiredtemperature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a capacitively coupled plasma reactor embodyingfeatures of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the RF bias power feed circuit of thereactor of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view corresponding to FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a detailed diagram of a coaxial feed portion of the circuit ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 5 illustrates a first dielectric ring process kit in the reactor ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 6 illustrates a second dielectric ring process kit in the reactorof FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 illustrates a system including the reactor of FIG. 1 embodyingthe invention.

FIG. 8 is a graph of the temperature as a function of enthalpy of thecoolant inside the evaporator of FIG. 7, and further depicting thedome-shaped liquid-vapor phase boundary.

FIG. 9 is a block flow diagram of a two-phase constant temperaturecooling process of the invention.

FIG. 10 depicts an exemplary wafer temperature-time profile that may berealized using the invention.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are contemporary timing diagrams of the wafertemperature and wafer backside gas pressure, respectively, in accordancewith a process for stepping the wafer temperature down in advance of acorresponding ESC temperature change.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are contemporary timing diagrams of the wafertemperature and wafer backside gas pressure, respectively, in accordancewith a process for stepping the wafer temperature down after completionof a corresponding ESC temperature change.

FIG. 13 illustrates a system similar to that of FIG. 7 but havingmultiple temperature control loops governing respectively multipletemperature zones.

FIG. 14 illustrates an optical temperature sensor of the invention asinstalled in the ESC of FIG. 7 or FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 illustrates an upper probe of the temperature sensor of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 illustrates a lower probe of the temperature sensor of FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 14 showing how theupper and lower probes are joined together within the ESC.

FIG. 18 is a graph of wafer temperature behavior over time beginning atplasma ignition for three different processes.

FIG. 19 is a diagram of a process of the invention for controlling wafertemperature at and shortly after plasma ignition.

FIG. 20 is a graph of wafer and ESC temperature behaviors over time anda corresponding backside gas pressure profile over time.

FIG. 21 is a diagram of a temperature ramping control process of theinvention.

FIGS. 22A and 22B illustrate wafer temperature behavior over time indifferent modes of the process of FIG. 21.

FIGS. 23A and 23B are schematic block diagrams of a wafer temperatureramping control system for carrying out the process of FIG. 21.

FIG. 24 is a simplified schematic block diagram of an ESC thermal modelemployed in carrying out certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 25 is a graph depicting the propagation of a temperature changethrough the ESC simulated by the thermal model of FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 depicts a 3-dimensional surface corresponding to a look-up tablecharacterizing one layer of the thermal model of FIG. 24.

FIG. 27 depicts plural 3-dimensional surfaces corresponding to look-uptable characterizing the wafer-puck interface for different backside gaspressures in the thermal model of FIG. 24.

FIGS. 28A and 28B are block diagrams of a feed forward process of theinvention for accommodating scheduled RF heat load changes.

FIG. 29 is a graph depicting the propagation of temperature changethrough the ESC in the process of FIGS. 28A and 28B.

FIGS. 30A, 30B and 30C depict wafer temperature behavior in response toESC temperature changes compensating for an RF heat load change, incases in which the compensation is late, on time and early,respectively.

FIGS. 31A, 31B and 31C constitute a flow diagram of a feed forwardprocess of the invention for effecting scheduled temperature changes.

FIGS. 32A and 32B are contemporaneous time diagrams of wafertemperature, ESC temperature (FIG. 32A and backside gas pressure (FIG.32B) in a first mode of the feed forward process.

FIGS. 33A and 33B are time diagrams of wafer temperature, ESCtemperature (FIG. 33A) and backside gas pressure (FIG. 33B) in a secondmode of the feed forward process.

FIGS. 34A and 34B are time diagrams of wafer temperature, ESCtemperature (FIG. 34A) and backside gas pressure (FIG. 34B) duringoperation of a look-ahead loop of the feed forward process of FIGS.31A-13C.

FIGS. 35A, 35B and 35C constitute a flow diagram of a feed forwardprocess corresponding to that of FIGS. 31A-31C, but adapted tocompensated for scheduled changes in RF heat load on the wafer.

FIG. 36 is a block diagram of a control system capable of operating boththe feed forward process of FIGS. 31A-C and 35A-C simultaneously.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a plasma reactor includes a reactor chamber 100with a wafer support 105 at the bottom of the chamber supporting asemiconductor wafer 110. A semiconductor ring 115 surrounds the wafer110. The semiconductor ring 115 is supported on the grounded chamberbody 127 by a dielectric (quartz) ring 120. The chamber 100 is boundedat the top by a disc shaped overhead electrode 125 supported at apredetermined gap length above the wafer 110 on grounded chamber body127 by a dielectric (quartz) seal 130. An RF generator 150 applies RFplasma source power to the electrode 125. RF power from the generator150 is coupled through a coaxial cable 162 matched to the generator 150and into a coaxial stub 135 connected to the electrode 125. The stub 135has a characteristic impedance, resonant frequency determined by itslength, and provides an impedance match between the electrode 125 andthe 50 Ohm coaxial cable 162 or the 50 Ohm output of the RF powergenerator 150. The chamber body is connected to the RF return (RFground) of the RF generator 150. The RF path from the overhead electrode125 to RF ground is affected by the capacitance of the semiconductorring 115, the dielectric ring 120 and the dielectric seal 130. The wafersupport 105, the wafer 110 and the semiconductor ring 115 provide theprimary RF return path for RF power applied to the electrode 125.

A large impedance match space is realized when the source powerfrequency, the plasma electrode resonance frequency and the stubresonance frequency are nearly matched. Preferably, three frequenciesare slightly offset from one another, with the source power frequencybeing 162 MHz (optimized for 300 mm wafers), the electrode-plasmaresonant frequency being slightly below 162 MHz, and the stub resonancefrequency being slightly above 162 MHz, in order to achieve a de-tuningeffect which advantageously reduces the system Q. Such a reduction insystem Q renders the reactor performance less susceptible to changes inconditions inside the chamber, so that the entire process is much morestable and can be carried out over a far wider process window.

The electrode capacitance is matched to the magnitude of the negativecapacitance of the plasma, and the resulting electrode-plasma resonantfrequency and the source power frequency are at least nearly matched.For the typical metal and dielectric etch process conditions (i.e.,plasma density between 10⁹-10¹² ions/cc, a 2-inch gap and an electrodediameter on the order of roughly 12 inches), the match is possible ifthe source power frequency is a VHF frequency.

An advantage of choosing the capacitance of the electrode 125 in thismanner, and then matching the resultant electrode-plasma resonantfrequency and the source power frequency, is that resonance of theelectrode and plasma near the source power frequency provides a widerimpedance match and wider process window, and consequently much greaterimmunity to changes in process conditions, and therefore greaterperformance stability. Matching the stub resonance frequency to theelectrode plasma resonant frequency minimizes reflections at thestub-electrode interface. The entire processing system is rendered lesssensitive to variations in operating conditions, e.g., shifts in plasmaimpedance, and therefore more reliable along with a greater range ofprocess applicability.

In accordance with a further aspect, the system Q is reduced to broadenthe process window by slightly offsetting the stub resonant frequency,the electrode plasma resonant frequency and the plasma source powerfrequency from one another. The use of the higher VHF source powerfrequency proportionately decreases the Q as well. Decreasing system Qbroadens the impedance match space of the system, so that itsperformance is not as susceptible to changes in plasma conditions ordeviations from manufacturing tolerances.

Bias Circuit Tuning for Uniform Radial Plasma Distribution:

Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, the workpiece support cathode 105includes a metal base layer 05 supporting a lower insulation layer 10,an electrically conductive mesh layer 15 overlying the lower insulationlayer 10 and a thin top insulation layer 20 covering the conductive meshlayer 15. The semiconductor workpiece or wafer 110 is placed on top ofthe top insulation layer 20. RF bias power is coupled to the conductivemesh layer 15 to control ion bombardment energy at the surface of thewafer 110. The conductive mesh 15 also can be used for electrostaticallychucking and de-chucking the wafer 110, and in such a case can beconnected to a chucking voltage source in the well-known fashion. Theconductive mesh 15 therefore is not necessarily grounded and can have,alternately, a floating electric potential or a fixed D.C. potential inaccordance with conventional chucking and de-chucking operations. Themetal base layer 05 typically (but not necessarily) is connected toground, and forms part of a return path for VHF power radiated by theoverhead electrode 125.

An RF bias generator 40 produces power in the HF band (e.g., 13.56 MHz).Its RF bias impedance match element 45 is coupled to the conductive mesh15 by an elongate conductor 25 (hereinafter referred to as an RFconductor) extending through the workpiece support cathode 105. The RFconductor 25 is insulated from grounded conductors such as the aluminumbase layer 05. The RF conductor 25 has a top termination or bias powerfeed point 25 a in electrical contact with the conductive mesh 15.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration corresponding to FIG. 1 of thecircuit consisting of the VHF overhead electrode 125, the RF biasapplied through the workpiece support cathode 105 and the elements ofthe cathode 105. FIG. 3 is a top plan view corresponding to FIG. 1 ofthe plane of the wafer 110, with the termination or feed point 25 a ofthe RF conductor 25 being shown in hidden (dashed) line. The RF returnpath provided by the workpiece support cathode 105 consists of twoportions in the plane of the wafer 110, namely a radially inner portion30 centered about and extending outwardly from the feed point 25 a and aradially outer annular portion 35. The RF return paths provided by thetwo portions 30, 35 are different, and therefore the two portions 30, 35present different impedances to the VHF power radiated by the overheadelectrode 125. Such differences may cause non-uniformities in radialdistribution across the wafer surface of impedance to the VHF power,giving rise to nonuniform radial distribution of plasma ion density nearthe surface of the workpiece.

In order to solve this problem, a dielectric cylindrical sleeve 50(shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 2) surrounds the RF conductor 25.The axial length and the dielectric constant of the materialconstituting the sleeve 50 determine the feed point impedance presentedby the RF conductor 25 to the VHF power. In one example, the length anddielectric constant of the sleeve 50 is selected to bring the feed pointimpedance to nearly zero at the VHF source power frequency (e.g., 162MHz). The impedance presented by the outer region 35 surrounding thefeed point 25 a is nearly a short at 162 MHz(due mainly to the presenceof the conductive mesh 15). Therefore, in the latter example the sleeve50 may bring the feed point impedance at the source power frequency to avalue closer to that of the surrounding region. Here, the impedance ofthe region surrounding the feed point is determined mainly by theconductive mesh 15. As a result, a more uniform radial distribution ofimpedance is attained, for more uniform capacitive coupling of VHFsource power.

The sleeve 50 can include additional features facilitating the foregoingimprovement in VHF power deposition while simultaneously solving aseparate problem, namely improving the uniformity in the electric fieldcreated by the RF bias power (at 13.56 MHz for example) applied to thewafer 110 by the RF conductor 25. The problem is how to adjust radialdistribution of VHF power coupling for maximum uniformity of plasma iondensity while simultaneously adjusting the HF bias power electric fielddistribution across the wafer surface for maximum uniformity.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view corresponding to FIGS. 1-3 showing how thesleeve 50 can be divided into three sections, namely a top section 52, amiddle section 54 and a bottom section 56. The length and dielectricconstant of the sleeve top section 52 is selected and fixed to optimizethe HF bias power deposition exclusively, and the lengths and dielectricconstants of the remaining sleeve sections 54, 56 are then selected tooptimize VHF source power deposition by the overhead electrode whileleaving the HF bias power deposition optimized.

RF Coupling Ring for Enhancing Plasma Uniformity:

Center-high plasma distribution non-uniformity is reduced by selectivelyenhancing capacitive coupling from the overhead electrode 125 to theplasma in the vicinity of the workpiece periphery. FIG. 5 corresponds toan enlarged view of FIG. 1 illustrating the additional feature of anannular RF coupling ring that is placed over and in electrical contactwith the outer periphery of the wafer support cathode 105. As shown inFIG. 5, the top insulation layer 20 is surrounded by a removable ring 80whose top surface 80 a is coplanar with the top surface of the wafer110. The removable ring 80 can be formed of a process-compatiblematerial such as silicon, for example. Optionally, removable metalground ring 85 surrounds the removable ring 80, its top surface 85 abeing coplanar with that of the removable ring 80. A generally planarsurface is provided across the top of the wafer support cathode 105bounded by the periphery of the ground ring 85, facing the generallyplanar surface of the bottom of the overhead electrode 125. As a result,capacitive coupling across the entire processing zone bounded by theoverhead electrode 125 and the wafer support cathode 105 is generallyuniform. In order to overcome non-uniformity inherent in the center-highplasma ion density distribution of the reactor, capacitive coupling bythe overhead electrode 125 is enhanced near the outer portion of theworkpiece 110 by placing an RF coupling ring 90 over the removable ring80 and over grounded ring 85. The RF coupling ring 90 may be aconductor, a semiconductor or a dielectric. If the coupling ring 90 is adielectric, then capacitive coupling to the plasma near the waferperiphery is enhanced by the presence of the dielectric material. If theRF coupling ring 90 is a conductor, it in effect narrows theelectrode-to-counterelectrode spacing and thereby enhances capacitancenear the peripheral region of the wafer 110. Thus, theelectrode-to-counterelectrode spacing is h1 everywhere in the processzone except at the periphery occupied by the RF coupling ring 90 wherethe spacing is reduced from h1 by the height h2 of the coupling ring 90.The increased capacitive coupling of source power enhances ion densityat the periphery. The increase in ion density extends inwardly from theRF coupling ring 90 and extends over a peripheral portion of theworkpiece 110. Thus, the plasma ion density over the workpiece 110 isless center high and may tend toward being more nearly uniform, orpossibly slightly edge-high. This condition is optimized by a carefulselection of the height (thickness) h2 of the RF coupling ring 90.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modification of the reactor of FIG. 5 in which asecond RF coupling ceiling ring 95 is attached to the periphery of thebottom surface of the overhead electrode 125 and overlies the first RFcoupling ring 90. If each ring 90, 95 has a thickness (height) of h3,then the electrode-to-counterelectrode distance near the wafer peripheryis reduced by twice h3 and the capacitance in that region is enhancedproportionately, as in the reactor of FIG. 5.

With the RF coupling ring 90 and the dielectric sleeve 50, plasma iondensity distribution uniformity is improved. Any remainingnon-uniformities can be corrected by plasma-steering magnetic fieldscontrolled by a plasma distribution controller 57 (shown in FIG. 1)governing D.C. current sources 58, 59 that drive overhead coils 60, 65.

Another modification that can be employed to enhance plasma processinguniformity across the diameter of the wafer 110 is to change the planarelectrode surface 125 a to a convex curved electrode surface 125 b. Thedegree of curvature can be selected to compensate for non-uniform plasmaion density radial distribution that may exist with the planar electrodesurface 125 a.

Highly Efficient Temperature Control Apparatus:

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the wafer support pedestal 105 of FIG. 1,revealing the internal structure of the pedestal 105. The pedestal 105embodies an electrostatic chuck (ESC), as described in FIG. 2, FIG. 7showing that the aluminum base 5 contains flow passages 200 for a PCHTmedium with an inlet 201 and an outlet 202. The internal flow passages200 constitute the heat exchanger of a PCHT loop, the heat exchanger 200being internally contained with the ESC base 5. The PCHT loop canoperate in either of two modes, namely a cooling mode (in which the heatexchanger 200 functions as an evaporator) and a heating mode (in whichthe heat exchanger 200 functions as a condenser). The remaining elementsof the PCHT loop are external of the ESC 105, and include (in order ofPCHT medium flow direction, starting from the outlet 202) an accumulator204, a compressor 206 (for pumping the PCHT medium through the loop),and (for the cooling mode of operation) a condenser 208 and an expansionvalve 210 having a variable orifice size, all of which are of the typewell-known in the art. An advantage of locating the heat exchanger 200inside the ESC base 05 is that the delay and losses inherent in thethermal transfer fluid of the prior art are eliminated. The PCHT loop(i.e., the heat exchanger 200, the accumulator 204, the compressor 206,the condenser 208, the expansion valve 210 and the conduits couplingthem together, contain the PCHT medium (which functions as a refrigerantor coolant when the PCHT operates in the cooling mode) of a conventionaltype and can have low electrical conductivity to avoid interfering withthe RF characteristics of the reactor. The accumulator 204 prevents anyliquid form of the PCHT medium from reaching the compressor 206 bystoring the liquid. This liquid is converted to vapor by appropriatelyoperating the bypass valve 214.

In order to overcome the problem of thermal drift during processing, theefficiency of the PCHT loop is increased ten-fold or more by operatingthe PCHT loop 200, 204, 206, 208, 210 so that the PCHT medium inside theheat exchanger is divided between a liquid phase and a vapor phase. Theliquid-to-vapor ratio at the inlet 201 is sufficiently high to allow fora decrease in this ratio at the outlet 202. This guarantees that all (ornearly all) heat transfer between the ESC base 05 and the PCHT medium(coolant) within the heat exchanger (evaporator) 200 occurs throughcontribution to the latent heat of evaporation of the PCHT medium. As aresult, the heat flow in the PCHT loop exceeds, by a factor of 10, theheat flow in a single-phase cooling cycle. This condition can besatisfied with a decrease in the CPHT medium's liquid-to-vapor ratiofrom the inlet 201 to the outlet 202 that is sufficiently limited sothat at least a very small amount of liquid remains at (or just before)the outlet 202. In the cooling mode, this requires that the coolantcapacity of the PCHT loop is not exceeded by the RF heat load on thewafer. One way of ensuring this is to provide the PCHT loop with amaximum cooling capacity that is about twice the maximum anticipatedheat load on the wafer. In one implementation of a reactor of the typedepicted in FIGS. 1-7, the maximum cooling rate of the PCHT loop wasbetween about three and four times the maximum anticipated heat load onthe wafer. The heat load on the wafer was about 30% of the applied RFpower on the wafer. The liquid-to-vapor ratio was between about 40% and60% at the inlet 201 and about 10% at the outlet 202.

While the PCHT loop has been described with reference primarily to thecooling mode of operation, it can also be employed in a heating modewhenever it is desired to raise the temperature of the ESC (e.g., at afaster rate than plasma heating alone is capable of). For operation ofthe PCHT loop in the heating mode, the condenser 206 and expansion valve210 are bypassed by at least some of the PCHT medium by opening thebypass valve 212, so as to allow superheated PCHT medium to flow to theheat exchanger 200. In this case, the heat exchanger 200 functions as acondenser rather than an evaporator. In this mode (the heating mode),overheating of the compressor 206 may be prevented by providing anadditional bypass (not shown) from the output of the condenser 206 tothe input of the compressor 208. In the heating mode, theliquid-to-vapor ratio in the heat exchanger 200 may be zero.

FIG. 8 is a phase diagram depicting the enthalpy of the PCHT mediuminside the heat exchanger 200 as a function of temperature. Thetemperature-enthalpy boundary between the three phases (liquid, solid,vapor) is a liquid-vapor dome 216 beneath which the PCHT medium existsin both liquid and vapor phases. To the lower enthalpy side of the dome216, the PCHT medium is a sub-cooled (100%) liquid phase while to thehigher enthalpy side of the dome 216 the PCHT medium is a superheated(100%) vapor. At the apex of the dome is the triple point at which allthree phases of the PCHT medium are present simultaneously. Thecontrollable parameters of the PCHT loop of FIG. 7, (i.e., the PCHTmedium flow rate established by the compressor 206, the orifice size ofthe expansion valve 210 and the opening size of a bypass valve 212 thatwill be discussed later herein) are selected by the skilled worker sothat the temperature and enthalpy of the PCHT medium inside the heatexchanger 200 stays under or within the liquid-vapor dome 216 of thephase diagram of FIG. 8. The pressure inside the heat exchanger 200 ismaintained at a constant level provided that a constant ESC basetemperature is desired, so that there is theoretically no temperaturechange as the coolant flows through the heat exchanger 200, as indicatedby the perfectly horizontal lines of constant pressure 218 a, 218 b ofFIG. 8. (In actual practice, there is a negligible temperaturedifference across the ESC inlet and outlet 201, 202 of about 5 degreesC. or less under typical operating conditions.) As the PCHT mediuminside the evaporator 200 absorbs heat from the ESC base 5, its internalenergy U increases, causing its enthalpy to increase (where enthalpy isU+PV, P and V being pressure and volume inside the evaporator 200). Tosatisfy the requirement for two-phase heat transfer through latent heatof evaporation exclusively (or nearly exclusively) as defined above, thePCHT medium's enthalpy/temperature coordinates must remain inside theliquid-vapor dome 216 of FIG. 8. Thus, for a constant pressure, the PCHTmedium's temperature/enthalpy coordinates follow a line of constantpressure (e.g., line 218 a) entering the heat exchanger 200 at a lowenthalpy (labeled “inlet” in FIG. 8) and exiting at a higher enthalpy(labeled “outlet” in FIG. 8), with the entry and exit enthalpies lyinginside or on the boundary of the liquid-vapor dome 216. FIG. 8 showsthat a greater increase in enthalpy (absorbed heat) is achieved at lowercoolant temperatures.

Solution to the Problem of Non-Uniform Temperatures Across the ESC andWafer:

Maintaining the PCHT medium (hereinafter referred to as “coolant”)inside the evaporator 200 of FIG. 7 within the liquid-vapor dome of FIG.8 —to guarantee heat extraction through the latent heat of vaporizationalmost exclusively—solves the problem of non-uniform temperature acrossthe wafer under high RF heat loads. This is because heat transfer viathe latent heat of vaporization is a constant-temperature process. Inthe cooling mode of the PCHT loop, as it absorbs heat, the coolantinside the evaporator 200 does not change temperature. Instead, itchanges phase, going from liquid to vapor. Thus, all the coolantthroughout the evaporator 200 (the fluid passages inside the ESC base 5)is at a uniform temperature regardless of the magnitude of the RF heatload on the wafer. The advantage is that the wafer temperaturedistribution is about as uniform as the electric field distributionacross the ESC, so that the etch rate uniformity achieved under the mostfavorable conditions by the electrical features discussed earlier herein(e.g., the RF bias feedpoint impedance adjustment by multiple dielectricsleeves and the dielectric edge ring process kit) is maintained evenunder the highest RF heat loads, a result heretofore unattainable. Thisresult renders the reactor of FIGS. 1-7 useful for plasma processingunder the current design rules (small feature sizes) and for severalgenerations of future design rules in which feature sizes may shrinkeven further, a significant advantage. This advantage is combined withthe extremely high heat capacity of cooling through latent heat ofvaporization (discussed above), which provides about an order ofmagnitude greater heat flow rate than conventional (sensible) heattransfer via the coolant mass heat capacity.

Operation of the reactor of FIG. 7 in the foregoing manner that resultsin heat transfer through the coolant's latent heat of vaporizationcorresponds to the method illustrated in FIG. 9. The first step in thismethod is to enhance or optimize uniformity of radial distribution ofthe ESC temperature by maintaining the coolant that is inside theevaporator 200 within a range of temperatures and enthalpies at whichthe heat transfer is through contributions to (or deductions from) thecoolant's latent heat of vaporization. This step is depicted in block300 of FIG. 9. The step of block 300 may be carried out by limitingvariation in the orifice or opening size of the expansion valve 210 to arange which confines the temperature and enthalpy of the coolant in theevaporator 200 to lie inside the liquid-vapor dome 216 of thetemperature-enthalpy diagram of FIG. 8 (block 302 of FIG. 9). For agiven coolant and for a given coolant flow rate, the adjustment range ofthe expansion valve that confines the coolant inside the liquid-vapordome 216 of FIG. 8 is readily determined and can be pre-programmed intoa microprocessor controlling the entire system, for example. The step ofblock 300 may also be carried out by adjusting thecompressor-to-evaporator bypass flow valve 212 within a range in whichthe coolant inside the evaporator 200 is maintained inside theliquid-vapor dome 216 of FIG. 8 (block 304 of FIG. 9). The adjustment ofthe bypass valve 212 (in the step of block 304) and the adjustment ofthe expansion valve 210 (in the step of block 302) may be combined toachieve the desired result.

Once heat transfer through the latent heat of vaporization in theevaporator 200 has been established by the step of block 300, the nextstep is to control the ESC temperature (block 306 of FIG. 9). This maybe accomplished by adjusting the expansion valve 210 within the rangeestablished in the step of block 300 until a desired ESC temperature isreached (block 308 of FIG. 9). Alternatively, the ESC temperature may becontrolled by adjusting the compressor-to-evaporator bypass valve 212within the range established in the step of block 304. This latter stepcorresponds to block 310 of FIG. 9. Temperature control may also becarried out by performing the steps of blocks 308 and 310 together.

Working Example:

While the variable orifice size of the expansion valve 210 is theprimary control over cooling rate and wafer temperature, additional oralternative temperature control and, if desired, heating of the wafer,is provided by a compressor-to-evaporator bypass valve 212. Completeconversion of all liquid coolant to the gas phase in the accumulator 204can be ensured using a compressor-to-accumulator bypass valve 214.

While selection is readily made of a suitable coolant, a flow rate bythe compressor 206 and an orifice size of the expansion valve thatsatisfies the foregoing conditions, the following is provided as aworking example in which two-phase cooling is achieved:

-   -   ESC Inlet temperature: −10 to +50 deg C.    -   ESC Inlet pressure: 160 to 200 PSIG    -   ESC Inlet liquid-vapor ratio: 40%-60% liquid    -   ESC Inlet-Outlet max temperature difference: 5 deg C.    -   ESC Inlet-Outlet max pressure difference: 10 PSI    -   ESC Outlet Liquid-vapor ratio: 10% liquid    -   Accumulator outlet temperature: 60 to 80 deg C.    -   Accumulator outlet pressure: 25 to 35 PSIG    -   Accumulator outlet liquid-vapor ratio: 100% vapor    -   Compressor flow rate: 4 gal per min    -   Compressor outlet pressure: 260-270 PSIG    -   Compressor outlet temperature: 80-100 deg C.    -   Compressor outlet liquid-vapor ratio: 100% vapor    -   Condenser outlet temperature: 20-40 deg C.    -   Condenser outlet pressure: 250 PSIG    -   Condenser liquid-vapor ratio: 100% vapor    -   Expansion valve outlet liquid-vapor ratio: 80%

Some evaporation occurs between the expansion valve outlet and the ESCcoolant inlet 201, which explains the decrease in liquid-vapor ratiofrom 80% to 60% from the expansion valve 210 to the ESC inlet 201. Whileit may be preferable to constrain the thermal cycle within theliquid-vapor dome 216 of FIG. 8 (as discussed above), the invention maybe implemented with some excursion beyond that limit. In particular, thecoolant's liquid-vapor ratio may at least nearly reach zero at theevaporator outlet 202, or may reach zero just before the evaporatoroutlet 202, in which case a small amount of sensible heating may occur.In such a case, the vast majority of heat transfer still occurs throughthe latent heat of vaporization, only a small fraction occurring throughsensible heating, so that the advantages of the invention are realizednonetheless.

Large Range Temperature Feedback Control Loop:

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 7, the wafer temperature may becontrolled or held at a desired temperature under a given RF heat loadon the wafer 110 using a temperature feedback control loop governingeither (or both) the expansion valve 210 and the bypass valve 212,although the simplest implementation controls the expansion valve 210only. The actual temperature is sensed at a temperature probe, which maybe a temperature probe 220 in the ESC insulating layer 10, a temperatureprobe 221 in the ESC base 05, a temperature probe 222 at the ESCevaporator inlet 201 or a temperature probe 223 at the ESC evaporatoroutlet 202 or a combination of any or all of these probes. For thispurpose, a feedback control loop processor 224 governs the orificeopening size of the expansion valve 210 in response to input or inputsfrom one or more of the temperature probes. The processor 224 isfurnished with a user-selected desired temperature value, which may bestored in a memory or user interface 225. As a simplified explanation,during each successive processing cycle, the processor 224 compares thecurrent temperature measured by at least one of the probes (e.g., by theprobe 220 in the ESC insulating layer) against the desired temperaturevalue. The processor 224 then computes an error value as the differencebetween the desired and measured temperature values, and determines fromthe error a correction to the orifice size of either the bypass valve212 or the expansion valve 210, that is likely to reduce the error. Theprocessor 224 then causes the valve orifice size to change in accordancewith the correction. This cycle is repeated during the entire durationof a wafer process to control the wafer temperature.

Agile Wafer Temperature Feedback Control Loop:

In conventional reactors, the wafer is cooled to avoid overheating fromabsorbed RF power by cooling the electrostatic chuck or wafer supportpedestal. Thermal conductivity between the wafer 110 and the cooled ESC105 is enhanced by injection under pressure of a thermally conductivegas (such as helium) into the interface between the backside of thewafer 110 and the top surface of the ESC 105, a technique well-known inthe art. For this purpose, gas channels 226 are formed in the topsurface of the ESC insulating layer 20 and a pressurized helium supply228 is coupled to the internal ESC gas channels 226 through a backsidegas pressure valve 229. The wafer 110 is electrostatically clamped downonto the top surface of the insulating layer 20 by a D.C. clampingvoltage applied by a clamp voltage source 128 to the grid electrode 15.The thermal conductivity between the wafer 110 and the ESC top layer 20is determined by the clamping voltage and by the thermally conductivegas (helium) pressure on the wafer backside. Highly agile (quick) wafertemperature control is carried out in accordance with the presentinvention by varying the backside gas pressure (by controlling the valve229) so as to adjust the wafer temperature to the desired level. As thebackside gas pressure is changed, the thermal conductivity between thewafer and the ESC top layer 20 is changed, which changes the balancebetween (a) the heat absorbed by the wafer 110 from RF power applied tothe grid electrode 15 or coupled to the plasma and (b) the heat drawnfrom the wafer to the cooled ESC. Changing this balance necessarilychanges the wafer temperature. A feedback control loop governing thebackside gas pressure can therefore be employed for agile or highlyresponsive control of the wafer temperature. The response of the wafertemperature to changes in the backside gas pressure is extremely quick(temperature changes reaching equilibrium within a second or less). Byway of comparison, changing the temperature of the base of the ESC orwafer support pedestal 105 does not cause the wafer to reach a new(elevated or depressed) equilibrium or steady state wafer temperaturefor on the order of minute (depending upon the thermal mass of the ESC105). Therefore, a temperature regulation system employing the backsidegas pressure provides agile temperature control capable of making fastadjustments to wafer temperature.

FIG. 7 illustrates such an agile temperature feedback control system, inwhich a feedback control loop processor 230 governs the backside gaspressure valve 229. One (or more) of the temperature sensors 220, 221,222 or 223 in the ESC may be connected to an input of the processor 230.A user interface or memory 231 may provide a user-selected or desiredtemperature to the processor 230. During each successive processingcycle, the processor 230 computes an error signal as the differencebetween the current temperature measurement (from one of the sensors220, 221, 222) and the desired temperature. The processor 230 determinesfrom that difference a correction to the current setting of the backsidegas pressure valve that would tend to reduce the temperature error, andchanges the valve opening in accordance with that correction. Forexample, a wafer temperature that is deviating above the desiredtemperature would require increasing the backside gas pressure toincrease thermal conductivity to the cooled ESC and bring down the wafertemperature. The converse is true in the case of a wafer temperaturedeviating below the desired temperature. The wafer temperature can thusbe controlled and set to new temperatures virtually instantly within atemperature range whose lower limit corresponds to the chilledtemperature of the ESC and whose upper limit is determined by the RFheat load on the wafer. For example, the wafer temperature cannot beincreased in the absence of an RF heat load and the wafer temperaturecannot be cooled below the temperature of the ESC. If this temperaturerange is sufficient, then any conventional technique may be used tomaintain the ESC at a desired chilled temperature to facilitate theagile temperature feedback control loop governing the backside gaspressure.

Dual Temperature Feedback Control Loops:

The agile temperature feedback control loop governing the backside gaspressure valve 229 and the large range temperature feedback control loopgoverning the refrigeration expansion valve 210 may be operatedsimultaneously in a cooperative combination under the control of amaster processor 232 controlling both feedback control loop processors224, 230.

The large range temperature feedback control loop (involving the PCHTloop consisting of the evaporator 200, the compressor 206, the condenser208 and the expansion valve 210) controls the workpiece temperature bychanging the temperature of the electrostatic chuck 105. The temperaturerange is limited only by the thermal capacity of the PCHT loop and cantherefore set the workpiece temperature to any temperature within a verylarge range (e.g., −10 deg C. to +150 deg C.). However, the rate atwhich it can effect a desired change in workpiece temperature at aparticular moment is limited by the thermal mass of the electrostaticchuck 105. This rate is so slow that, for example, with an electrostaticchuck for supporting a 300 mm workpiece or silicon wafer, a 10 degree C.change in workpiece temperature can require on the order of a minute ormore from the time the refrigeration unit begins to change the thermalconditions of the coolant to meet the new temperature until theworkpiece temperature finally reaches the new temperature.

In contrast, in making a desired change or correction in workpiecetemperature, the agile temperature feedback control loop does not changethe electrostatic chuck temperature (at least not directly) but merelychanges the thermal conductivity between the workpiece and theelectrostatic chuck. The rate at which the workpiece temperatureresponds to such a change is extremely high because it is limited onlyby the rate at which the backside gas pressure can be changed and thethermal mass of the workpiece. The backside gas pressure responds tomovement of the valve 229 in a small fraction of a second in a typicalsystem. For a typical 300 mm silicon wafer, the thermal mass is so lowthat the wafer (workpiece) temperature responds to changes in thebackside gas pressure within a matter of a few seconds or a fraction ofa second. Therefore, relative to the time scale over which the largerange temperature control loop effects changes in workpiece temperature,the workpiece temperature response of agile feedback loop iscomparatively instantaneous. However, the range over which the agilefeedback loop can change the workpiece temperature is quite limited: thehighest workpiece temperature that can be attained is limited by the RFheat load on the wafer, while the lowest temperature cannot be below thecurrent temperature of the electrostatic chuck 105. However, incombining the agile and large range temperature control loops together,the advantages of each one compensate for the limitations of the other,because their combination provides a large workpiece temperature rangeand a very fast response.

The master processor 232 may be programmed to effect large temperaturechanges using the large range feedback control loop (the processor 224)and effect quick but smaller temperature changes using the agilefeedback control loop (the processor 230). FIG. 10 is a graph of oneexample of wafer temperature behavior over time. The solid line depictsthe long term temperature behavior, in which the master processor 232effects slow large changes in wafer temperature using the large rangefeedback control loop with the processor 224. The dashed line depictsfast perturbations in temperature, in which the master processor 232effects fast but small changes in wafer temperature using the agilefeedback control loop with the processor 230.

The dual loop control afforded by the master processor 232 can beemployed to (nearly) instantly move the wafer temperature to a newdesired level and hold it there while the ESC temperature slowly changesto the new desired temperature. This is illustrated in FIGS. 11A and11B. The solid line in FIG. 11A depicts the wafer temperature behaviorover time in which the wafer temperature is stepped down to a lowertemperature at time t1 and held there, at which time the PCHT loop(dashed line) begins to cool down the ESC to the lower temperature,which is not reached by the ESC until time t2. The fast change in wafertemperature at time t1 and its temperature stability thereafter isaccomplished by the agile control loop 230. The agile control loopprocessor 230 receives the new (lower) desired wafer temperature at timet1 and responds by immediately increasing the backside gas pressure(FIG. 11B) to step the wafer temperature down to the new temperature attime t1. In the meantime, the ESC temperature begins to fall in order todrive the ESC to (or slightly below) the new temperature at time t1, sothat processor 224 increases the refrigeration cooling rate of the ESCto drive its temperature down. This forces the agile control loopprocessor 230 to decrease backside gas pressure after time t1 tomaintain the desired wafer temperature, until the ESC reaches thecorrect temperature at time t2, after which the backside gas pressureremains constant.

The example of FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrates how the ESC temperaturechange may be delayed while the PCHT loop is allowed to slowly adjust toa new temperature (to accommodate a time lag to the ESC surface of about50 degrees over 5 seconds). FIG. 12A depicts temperature behavior overtime while FIG. 12B depicts the corresponding backside gas pressureprofile over time. As illustrated in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the dual loopcontrol afforded by the master processor 232 can be employed totemporarily hold the wafer temperature constant (solid line of FIG. 12A)at an initial temperature level while, beginning at time t1, the PCHTloop takes the ESC through a large but slow temperature excursion(dashed line of FIG. 12A). Then, the wafer temperature is allowed tostep down to the new ESC temperature. This is accomplished by coolingthe ESC while constantly decreasing the backside gas pressure beginningat time t1. Then, after the desired ESC temperature is reached at timet2, the agile temperature control loop steps up the backside gaspressure to step the wafer temperature down to the ESC temperature.

Multiple Temperature Zones:

1. Large Range Temperature Control Loop:

The ESC 105 may be divided into plural radial zones, and differentindependent feedback control loops may separately control thetemperature in each zone. An advantage of this feature is that differentradial zones of the wafer 110 may be kept at different temperaturesduring processing so as to further reduce process or etch ratedistribution non-uniformities. In the example of FIG. 13, the ESC 105 isdivided into two temperature control zones, namely a radially inner zone234 and a radially outer zone 236, and a separate temperature controlapparatus is provided for each zone 234, 236. In some embodiments havingsuch plural radial zones, it may be preferable to divide the ESCconductive mesh or electrode 15 into plural radial zones (such asconcentric inner and outer zones 15 a, 15 b, for example).

The radially inner zone 234 of the aluminum base 05 contains inner zonecoolant flow passages 200 a with a coolant inlet 201 a and a coolantoutlet 202 a. The inner zone coolant flow passages 200 a constitute theinner zone evaporator of an inner zone PCHT loop, the evaporator 200 abeing internally contained with the inner zone 234 of the ESC base 05.The remaining elements of the inner zone PCHT loop are external of theESC 105, and include (in order of coolant flow direction, starting fromthe coolant outlet 202 a) an accumulator 204 a, a compressor 206 a, acondenser 208 a and an expansion valve 210 a having a variable orificesize, all of which are of the type well-known in the art. The radiallyouter zone 236 of the aluminum base 05 contains outer zone coolant flowpassages 200 b with a coolant inlet 201 b and a coolant outlet 202 b.The outer zone coolant flow passages 200 b constitute the outer zoneevaporator of an outer zone PCHT loop, the evaporator 200 b beinginternally contained with the outer zone 236 of the ESC base 05. Theremaining elements of the outer zone PCHT loop are external of the ESC105, and include (in order of coolant flow direction, starting from thecoolant outlet 202 b) an accumulator 204 b, a compressor 206 b, acondenser 208 b and an expansion valve 210 b having a variable orificesize, all of which are of the type well-known in the art. Temperature inthe inner zone 234 is sensed at one or more of the following inner zonetemperature probes: probe 220 a in the inner zone 234 of the ESCinsulating layer 10, probe 221 a in the inner zone of the ESC base 05,probe 222 a at the inner zone evaporator inlet 201 a or probe 223 a atthe inner zone evaporator outlet 202 a.

An inner zone feedback control loop processor 224 a governs the orificeopening size of the inner zone expansion valve 210 a in response toinput or inputs from one or more of the inner zone temperature probes.The inner zone processor 224 a is furnished with a user-selected desiredinner zone temperature value, which may be stored in a memory or userinterface 225 a. During each successive processing cycle, the inner zoneprocessor 224 a compares the current temperature measured by at leastone of the probes (e.g., the probe 220 a in the ESC insulating layer)against the desired temperature value and corrects the orifice size ofthe inner zone expansion valve 210 a accordingly. An outer zone feedbackcontrol loop processor 224 b governs the orifice opening size of theouter zone expansion valve 210 b in response to input or inputs from oneor more of the outer zone temperature probes. The outer zone processor224 b is furnished with a user-selected desired outer zone temperaturevalue, which may be stored in a memory or user interface 225 b. Duringeach successive processing cycle, the outer zone processor 224 bcompares the current temperature measured by at least one of the probes(e.g., the outer zone probe 220 b in the ESC insulating layer) againstthe desired temperature value and corrects the orifice size of the outerzone expansion valve 210 b accordingly.

2. Agile Temperature Feedback Control Loop:

In both temperature zones 234 and 236, thermal conductivity between thewafer 110 and the cooled ESC 105 is enhanced by injection under pressureof a thermally conductive gas (such as helium) into the interfacebetween the backside of the wafer 110 and the top surface of the ESC105, a technique well-known in the art. In the inner temperature zone234, inner zone gas channels 226 a are formed in inner zone 234 of thetop surface of the ESC insulating layer 20 and a pressurized heliumsupply 228 a is coupled to the inner zone gas channels 226 a through aninner zone backside gas pressure valve 229 a. The wafer 110 iselectrostatically clamped down onto the top surface of the insulatinglayer 20 by a D.C. clamping voltage applied by a clamp voltage source128 to the grid electrode 15 (i.e., 15 a and 15 b). The thermalconductivity between the wafer 110 and the ESC top layer 20 isdetermined by the clamping voltage and by the thermally conductive gas(helium) pressure on the wafer backside. Highly agile (quick) wafertemperature control is carried out in the inner temperature zone 234 bycontrolling the inner zone valve 229 a so as to adjust the wafertemperature to the desired level. An inner zone agile feedback controlloop processor 230 a governs the inner zone backside gas pressure valve229 a. One (or more) of the inner zone temperature sensors 220 a, 221 a,222 a or 223 a in the ESC inner zone 234 may be connected to an input ofthe inner zone agile processor 230 a. An inner zone user interface ormemory 231 a may provide a user-selected or desired temperature to theinner zone agile processor 230 a. During each successive processingcycle, the processor 230 a senses an error as the difference between thecurrent temperature measurement (from one of the inner zone sensors 220a, 221 a, 222 a) and the desired temperature, and changes the opening ofthe inner zone backside gas valve 229 a accordingly.

In the outer temperature zone 236, outer zone gas channels 226 b areformed in outer zone 236 of the top surface of the ESC insulating layer20 and the pressurized helium supply 228 b is coupled to the outer zonegas channels 226 b through an outer zone backside gas pressure valve 229b. Highly agile (quick) wafer temperature control is carried out in theouter temperature zone 236 by controlling the outer zone valve 229 b soas to adjust the wafer temperature to the desired level. An outer zoneagile feedback control loop processor 230 b governs the outer zonebackside gas pressure valve 229 b. One (or more) of the outer zonetemperature sensors 220 b, 221 b, 222 b or 223 b in the ESC outer zone236 may be connected to an input of the outer zone agile processor 230b. An outer zone user interface or memory 231 b may provide auser-selected or desired temperature to the inner zone agile processor230 b. During each successive processing cycle, the processor 230 bsenses an error as the difference between the current temperaturemeasurement (from one of the outer zone sensors 220 b, 221 b, 222 b) andthe desired temperature, and changes the opening of the outer zonebackside gas valve 229 b accordingly.

With the combination of the agile and large range inner and outerfeedback control loops described above with reference to FIG. 13, theradial profile of the wafer temperature may be controlled over a largerange with agile response.

Temperature Probe with Minimal or No RF Parasitics:

FIG. 14 depicts a preferred temperature probe 238 installed in theplasma reactor of FIG. 1. The probe 238 consists of two separableportions, namely an upper probe 239 installed in the ESC 105 and a lowerprobe 240 installed in a portion of the reactor chamber beneath andsupporting the ESC 105, namely a chamber host base 241. The upper probe239 is depicted in the enlarged view of FIG. 15, and lies in an area ofhigh RF electric potential (i.e., inside the ESC insulating layer orpuck 10, 20). The upper probe 239 is firmly inserted in an elongateaxial hole within the ESC 105 that closely fits the upper probe 239, andthe tip of the upper probe 239 lies very close (e.g., within 3 to 3.5mm) to the top surface of the puck 20. (The advantage is that the probe239 is sufficiently close to the wafer 110 to minimize or eliminatetemperature measurement errors.) This area of the ESC has very highelectric field potential during processing so that any electricalproperties that the upper probe 239 may have would have profound effectson plasma processing on the wafer. The upper probe 239 thereforeincludes RF compatibility features which minimize or eliminate anyeffect that the probe 239 might otherwise have on the electric field oron the RF impedance distribution. Such RF compatibility features ensurethat the probe 239 does not distort or perturb the ESC electric field orRF impedance distribution that has been so carefully adjusted with thefeatures of the feedpoint impedance adjustment of FIGS. 2-4 and/or thedielectric ring process kit of FIGS. 5-6 (for example). The RFcompatibility features of the upper probe 239 include a complete absenceof any conductive materials within the probe 239, an orientation of theprobe in the axial direction (to minimize its effect on the radialelectric field or RF impedance distribution) and its small diameter,which is on the order of a fraction of a Debeye length of the plasma inthe chamber. These features are made possible by employing anelectrically nonconductive optical temperature transducer 242 (e.g., aphosphor material) whose blackbody radiation spectrum is a well-knownfunction of its temperature. The optical temperature transducer 242 iscoupled to a long thin optical fiber 243 contained within the thin axialupper probe 239. The upper probe 239 further includes an opaquecylindrical dielectric sleeve 244 surrounding the optical fiber 243 andpreferably consisting of glass-impregnated plastic. The opticaltemperature transducer 242 is capped by a dielectric cap 245 of amaterial that is, preferably, identical to the dielectric material ofthe ESC puck 10, 20, which in the preferred embodiment is aluminumnitride. This latter feature ensures that the temperature behavior ofthe material contacting the optical temperature transducer 242 (i.e.,the cap 245) is identical to the material whose temperature is to bemeasured (i.e., the ESC puck layer 20 that is in direct contact with thewafer 110).

The upper probe 239 further includes a mounting plate 246 that isremovably fastened to the bottom surface of the ESC base 05. Themounting plate 246 supports a spring housing 247 containing a coilspring 248 compressed between a shoulder 245 of the housing 247 and anannular ring 249 fastened to a portion of the probe sleeve 244 lyingwithin the housing 247. As the upper probe 239 is inserted into the ESC105 and presses against the top end of the hole within the ESC, the coilspring 248 is compressed to force the tip of the probe 239 to self-alignto the top end of the hole.

The lower probe 240 is shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 16 andincludes an optical fiber 250 surrounded by an opaque lower cylindricalsleeve 251. Since the lower probe 240 is below the grounded conductiveESC base 05, it is located outside of areas of high RF electric fields,and therefore need not be formed of non-conductive materials. In fact,the lower cylindrical sleeve 251 may be formed of steel, for example.The top end 252 of the lower probe 240 is tightly received within a hole253 in the mounting plate 246 of the upper probe 239. The lower probe240 further includes a mounting plate 254 that is removably fastened tothe bottom surface of the chamber housing host base 241. The mountingplate 254 supports a spring housing 255 containing a coil spring 256compressed between a shoulder 257 of the housing 255 and an annular ring258 fastened to a portion of the lower probe sleeve 251 lying within thehousing 255. As the tip 252 of the lower probe 240 is inserted into thehole 253 of the upper probe mounting plate 246 and pressed against thetop end of the hole 253, the coil spring 256 is compressed to force thetip of the lower probe 240 to self-align to the top end of the hole 253.The resulting self-alignment of the lower probe 240 against the upperprobe 239 is illustrated in FIG. 17, which shows that the facing ends ofthe upper probe optical fiber 243 and the lower probe optical fiber 250are in nearly perfect alignment. Signal conditioning circuitry convertsthe light received from the optical fiber at the bottom end of the lowerprobe fiber 250 and converts it to a digital signal for use by one ofthe feedback control loop processors. While FIG. 14 depicts a singletemperature probe whose tip lies near the top of the ESC 105, anotheridentical probe may be placed in a lower portion of the ESC but at thesame radial location as first probe. Other identical probes may beplaced at different radial (azimuthal) locations within the ESC but inthe same height (axial location) as other probes. Thus, the temperatureprobes 220 a, 220 b of the different temperature zones 234, 236 of FIG.13 may each be of the type described above in FIGS. 13-16 and arelocated at different radial locations at a common axial height.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been described asincluding different feedback control loop processors, any or all suchprocessors may be implemented in a single common processor programmed toperform the functions of each of the individual feedback control loopprocessors. Similarly, other resources associated with the differentcontrol loops, such as the dual helium supplies 228 a, 228 b, may beimplemented with a single supply or resource with separately controlledinterfaces (e.g., such as a single helium supply and dual pressurecontrol valves 229 a, 229 b). Moreover, if (for example) the conductivemesh electrode 15 is divided into inner and outer electrodes 15 a, 15 bas suggested earlier in this specification, then a common RF bias powersource may be employed to apply different levels of RF bias power to theinner and outer mesh electrodes 15 a, 15 b. Alternatively, separate RFbias power generators may be employed to realize the separate RF biaspower levels.

Workpiece Temperature Ramping Using Backside Gas Pressure:

As discussed above in this specification, the large range temperaturecontrol loop controls workpiece temperature by regulating thetemperature of the electrostatic chuck 105. It therefore has a slowresponse attributable to the thermal mass of the electrostatic chuck.Another problem with a conventional electrostatic chuck cooling systemis that its efficiency is too limited to avoid upward temperature driftafter the wafer temperature has reached the desired level. This leads toworkpiece temperature drift during initial processing, which is mostpronounced when processing the “first” wafer after the reactor has beenidle. This problem is illustrated by the curve labeled 260 in the graphof FIG. 18 depicting a typical wafer temperature response over time whenplasma power is turned on at time t0. Initially the wafer temperatureand the ESC temperature are below the desired temperature, and thethermal mass of the cooled electrostatic chuck 105 slows down thereaction of the wafer temperature to the RF heat load on the wafer. Thisdelays the wafer temperature from reaching the desired temperature fromtime t0 until time tb. This delay is typically on the order of tens ofseconds or a minute or more. After that, the conventional electrostaticchuck cooling apparatus has such limited heat transfer efficiency thatit cannot compensate for the accumulation of heat from the RF heat loadon the wafer, so that the wafer temperature continues to increase ordrift above the desired temperature after time tb. Such uncontrolledchanges in temperature degrade control of the plasma process.

The problem of the temperature drift after time tb (corresponding to thecurve 260 of FIG. 18) is solved by the superior efficiency of thetwo-phase refrigeration loop of FIG. 7. As discussed above in thisspecification, the two phase refrigeration loop achieves improvedresponse by locating its evaporator 200 inside the electrostatic chuck105. Its efficiency is further improved by an order of magnitude bycarrying out heat transfer in the evaporator 200 primarily throughlatent heat of vaporization. This improved efficiency enables therefrigeration loop to stop the wafer temperature from increasing afterthe desired temperature has been reached. This improved wafertemperature behavior is depicted by the curve of 262 of FIG. 18, inwhich the wafer temperature levels off after reaching the desiredtemperature at time t2, and has little or no drift thereafter. Thissolution nevertheless leaves a significant delay (from time t0 to timet2) in the wafer temperature reaching the desired level.

The problem of the delay in bringing the wafer temperature to thedesired temperature (i.e., from time t0 to time t2) is solved byemploying the agile feedback control loop processor 230. When RF poweris first turned on and the wafer temperature is below the desiredtemperature (at time t0), the valve 229 is served so as to reduce (orturn off) the backside gas pressure in order to decrease wafer-to-chuckconductance and thus reduce the cooling effect and thermal mass of theelectrostatic chuck 105 on the wafer 110. This allows the wafer 110 tobe quickly heated by the RF heat load with little or no opposition fromthe cooled chuck 105, producing a steep rise in temperature beginning attime t0, as indicated by the curve labeled 264 of FIG. 18. As the curvelabeled 264 of FIG. 18 shows, the wafer temperature reaches the desiredtemperature at time ta, the time delay from time t0 to time ta beingextremely short, e.g., on the order of only several seconds or afraction of a second.

As the wafer reaches the desired temperature, the agile control loopprocessor 230 must increase the backside gas pressure (by controllingthe valve 229) in order to increase the cooling effect of theelectrostatic chuck 105 so that the rapid increase in wafer heatingbeginning at time t0 does not overshoot the desired temperature. Inorder to counteract temperature drift, the backside gas pressure can becontinually increased to maintain the desired wafer temperature. Allthese adjustments in backside gas pressure must be carried outaccurately and timely. In order to accomplish this, a preferredembodiment of the present invention includes a thermal model of theelectrostatic chuck 105 that simulates heat transfer through the variouslayers of the electrostatic chuck between under given conditions. Thisfeature predicts the optimum backside gas pressure to attain and holdthe desired wafer temperature in view of the prevailing conditions. FIG.19 depicts one cycle of a control process employing a thermal model. Anexample of the thermal model which will be described subsequently inthis specification. The master processor 232 can be programmed tointeractively repeat the cycle of FIG. 19 to carry out the controlprocess.

Referring to FIG. 19, the cycle begins with inputting the currentprocess conditions into the thermal model (block 270). These conditionsmay include the RF heat load on the wafer (which may be expressed as apredetermined fraction of the total applied RF power), the electrostaticchuck temperature at or near the evaporator 200, the electrostatic chuckwafer clamping D.C. voltage, and the backside gas pressure. The nextstep (block 271) is to obtain from the thermal model a prediction of thefinal or steady state temperature Tf of the wafer produced under thecurrent process condition (i.e., the temperature reached at time tb ofFIG. 18). For example, to do this the thermal model may generate afunction T(z,t) defining the evolution over time t of the distributionof the temperature T along the axial direction z through theelectrostatic chuck 105. As one possible option, if Tf is not thedesired temperature, the initial conditions may be modified and theforegoing steps repeated until the thermal model yields a satisfactoryprediction of Tf. Then, the thermal model is used to find a backside gaspressure (i.e., a setting of the valve 229) that would immediatelyadvance the wafer temperature to the predicted steady state temperatureTf (block 272 of FIG. 19). This may be accomplished by varying the valueof the backside gas pressure inputted to the model and monitoring thechange in predicted steady state wafer temperature until the desiredtemperature is predicted, indicating that an optimum backside gaspressure value has been found. The backside gas pressure is then set tothe optimum value thus identified (block 273). If steady state has beenreached (block 274), the process is stopped. Otherwise, the time indexis incremented (block 275) and the process cycles back to the step ofblock 272.

FIG. 20 is a graph depicting the temperature behavior over time of thewafer 110 (curve labeled 276), the top surface or puck layer 20 of theelectrostatic chuck 105 (curve labeled 277), the bottom or base 5 of theelectrostatic chuck 105 (curve labeled 278). In addition, the curvelabeled 279 depicts the behavior over the same time scale of thebackside gas pressure required to achieve the wafer temperature stepbehavior of curve 276. For the sake of comparison, the curve labeled 280depicts the problematic temperature behavior of the wafer in the absenceof any change in backside gas pressure, in which the wafer temperatureinitially reaches the desired process temperature very slowly during asignificant portion of the wafer process. Curve 279 of FIG. 20 depictsthe initial steep drop in backside gas pressure at the time of plasmaignition that provides the simultaneous steep rise in wafer temperature,and the slow increase thereafter in backside gas pressure to compensatefor the rising temperature of the electrostatic chuck 105 correspondingto curve 277. In obtaining the data represented by FIG. 20, thefollowing process conditions existed: 100 Watts of plasma RF (VHF)source power was applied to the overhead ceiling electrode, 4000 Wattsof plasma RF (HF) bias power was applied to the ESC, the chamberpressure was 15 Torr, the ESC wafer clamping D.C. voltage was 400 Volts,the ESC evaporator temperature was 40 deg. C., the coolant flow rate was3.75 gallons per minute over the first 500 seconds.

FIG. 21 illustrates how backside gas pressure ramping (by the agilecontrol loop processor 230) may control wafer temperature during theentire wafer process. It can do this to maintain the wafer temperatureat a constant desired temperature or, alternatively, to accuratelyfollow a rapidly changing wafer temperature profile that may bespecified in the user's process recipe. In the process of FIG. 21, thefirst step is to define a desired wafer temperature profile of thedesired time evolution of the wafer temperature (block 282 of FIG. 21).The desired temperature for the current time is determined from theprofile (block 283 a) and input to the thermal model (block 283 b). Thecurrent process conditions are also input to the thermal model (block284), such as wafer backside gas pressure, current wafer temperature, RFheat load on the wafer, ESC base temperature and electrostatic waferclamping force, for example. The thermal model is then used (block 285a) to obtain a correction to the wafer backside gas pressure that wouldmove the current wafer temperature to the current desired temperaturevalue obtained from the user-defined profile. This correction is thenmade to the wafer backside gas pressure (block 285 b). The value of thecurrent time is incremented to the next sample time or processor cycletime, and the process cycles back (block 287) to the step of block 283a.

While the backside gas pressure can be used with the thermal model inthe manner depicted in FIG. 21 to control wafer temperature, it islimited to a narrow temperature range defined by a low temperature thatis no lower than the ESC evaporator temperature and a high temperaturethat is limited by the RF heat load on the wafer. Therefore, if theuser-specified temperature profile requires changes exceeding thisrange, then the large range (refrigeration) temperature control loop isbe used in conjunction with the agile control loop processor 230. Forthis purpose the following steps are carried out contemporaneously withthe steps of block 285 a and 285 b: The thermal model is used (block 286a) to obtain a correction to the ESC evaporator (or base) temperaturethat would move the current wafer temperature to the current desiredtemperature value obtained from the user-defined profile. Thiscorrection is then made to the refrigeration loop, e.g., by adjustingthe expansion valve 210 (block 286 b).

Dual Loop Temperature Control Using the Thermal Model:

By performing the steps of blocks 285 a, 285 b and 286 a, 286 b of FIG.21 contemporaneously, the respective advantages of the two control loops(the large range control loop governed by the processor 224 and theagile control loop governed by the processor 230) are automaticallyselected for maximum effect depending upon the temperature change to bemade. Thus, if the next desired temperature change is a very largetemperature change that is beyond the capability of the agile controlloop, then the effect of the large range temperature control loop willdominate. Similarly, if the next desired temperature range is a veryquick temperature change that is too fast for the large rangetemperature control loop 229, 230, then the large temperature controlloop cannot even respond, while the agile temperature control loop 229,230 effects the needed temperature change.

This concept is depicted in the example of FIGS. 22A and 22B. FIG. 22Aillustrates an example of a temperature-time profile required by aprocess recipe. It includes a number slow very large rise in temperaturefrom temperature T1 to temperature T2 that is punctuated by a series ofsharp steps between Ta and Tb. At the peak (T3), the temperature changeis along an arc having a negative rate of change followed by another arc(around temperature T4) having a positive rate of change. Thetemperature scale of FIG. 22A is such that the agile control processor230, using backside gas pressure as in steps 285 a, 285 b of FIG. 21, isincapable of making the change from T1 to T2, and therefore this largechange is made by the large range control processor 224 in steps 286 a,286 b. However, the time scale of FIG. 21 is such that the large rangecontrol processor 224 is incapable of effecting the sharp steps betweenTa and Tb. The small deviation represented by these sharp steps is madeby the agile control processor 230 in the steps of 285 a, 285 b, whosesmall changes are superimposed upon the long-term temperature rise fromT1 to T2 made by the large range control processor 224. Similarly, thesharp arc paths of the temperature profile around T3 and T4 cannot beemulated by the slow moving large range temperature control loop. Theagile temperature control loop processor 230 provides the fine response(in steps 285 a, 285 b of FIG. 21) required to emulate such arcuatepaths in the temperature profile. In doing so, the time resolution ofthe agile temperature control processor 230, corresponding to the timeperiod of a single process cycle, can create a staircase effect intracing the arcuate paths of the desired temperature profile of FIG. 22Aif these changes occur over a small time period, as indicated in thecorresponding portions of FIG. 22B having a staircase appearance. Ingeneral, then, small fine changes or corrections effected by the agilecontrol processor 230 in carrying out the steps of blocks 285 a, 285 bof FIG. 21 are superimposed upon the long term large temperature changesmade by the large range temperature control processor 224 in carryingout the steps of blocks 286 a, 286 b of FIG. 21.

FIGS. 23A and 23B (hereinafter referred to collectively as FIG. 23)depict a modification of the apparatus of FIG. 7 capable of performingthe process of FIG. 21. In FIG. 23, a thermal model 288 of the typereferred to above is accessible to the apparatus of FIG. 7, andspecifically is accessed by any one or all of the following processors:the master control processor 232, the large range feedback control loopprocessor 224 and the agile feedback control loop processor 230. If boththe agile and large range control loop processors 230, 224 are to accessthe thermal model 288, then the agile and large range control loopprocessors 230, 224 preferably access the thermal model 288 through themaster processor 232 so that the master processor 232 can perform anyarbitration that may be necessary. Inputs corresponding to the currentprocess conditions are received at an input 289 of the thermal model.Based upon these inputs, the thermal model 288 generates a time-evolvingspatial temperature distribution, T(z,t) that may be exploited topredict steady state temperatures or searched for temperature controlsettings that could result in achieving a desired temperature, forexample.

If the processor 230 is performing the process of FIG. 19, then it makesa request at a model input 261 for the model 288 to obtain, from T(z,t),the steady state wafer temperature that is reached some time afterplasma ignition, and this steady state temperature is defined as thetarget temperature. On the other hand, if the processor 230 isperforming the process of FIG. 21, then the desired temperature for thecurrent time according to the user profile (e.g., of FIG. 22) is appliedto the model input 261. In either case, the processor 230 obtains froman output 263 of the thermal model 288 a correction to the backside gaspressure that will move the wafer temperature closer to the desiredtemperature. A corresponding command to the pressure valve 229 istransmitted at an output 265 of the processor 230.

FIG. 24 is a simplified schematic block diagram of one possibleembodiment of the thermal model 288. The model is divided into layerscorresponding to the thermal path between the wafer 110 and theevaporator 200. Layer 290 represents the heat load on the wafer and isspecified as a heat flow rate. This heat flow rate is a function of theRF power applied to the reactor and can be readily determined by theskilled worker. Subsequent layers are represented as thermal resistancesand heat capacitances. The thermal resistance is a function of thedimensions of the layer and its thermal resistivity or conductivity. Theheat capacitance is a function of the layer's specific heat, density anddimensions. Layer 291 represents the wafer 110 as a thermal resistance291 a and a thermal capacitance 291 b. Layer 292 represents theinterface between the wafer 110 and the top surface of the ESC puck 20as a variable thermal resistance 292 a (that change with the backsidegas pressure) and a heat capacitance 292 b. Layer 293 represents the ESCpuck 10, 20 as a puck thermal resistance 293 a and heat capacitance 293b. Layer 294 represents the bond or interface between the puck 10 andthe ESC base 5 as a thermal resistance 294 a and a heat capacitance 294b. Layer 295 represents the ESC base 5 as a base thermal resistance 295a and a base heat capacitance 295 b. Optionally the model 288 canrepresent the cooling action of the internal evaporator 200 as a heatsink 296 which is specified by a heat flow rate. This heat flow rate maybe determined from the setting of the expansion valve 210 based upon alook-up table that has been previously constructed by the skilled workerfrom measurement data.

The thermal model 288 must be furnished with the essential initialconditions in order to simulate heat flow through the ESC 105. For thispurpose, input 289 of the model 288 receives the following inputs,which, in one example, may be supplied by the control processor 230: thebackside gas pressure (from the setting of the valve 229), the initialtemperature of the ESC base 5, the initial temperature of the wafer 110or puck 20, the power of the heat source 290 representing the wafer RFheat load, and (optionally) the cooling rate (power) of the heat sink296.

The thermal model 288 can then be queried (e.g., by the processor 230)for specific information, such as the temperature at the wafer 110 as afunction of time to determine or predict a steady state temperatureafter plasma ignition (for example). This corresponds to the step ofblock 271 of FIG. 19. Or, the thermal model 288 may be searched for thebest backside gas pressure (or setting of the valve 229) that ramps thewafer temperature to a desired value. This latter feature corresponds tothe step of block 272 of FIG. 19 and/or to the step of block 286 of FIG.21.

Alternatively, in a robust version of the thermal model 288, the model288 may produce a spatial distribution T(Z) of the temperature along theZ-axis (i.e., along the stack if layers 291 through 295) for eachdiscrete processor sample time, t, within a selected time window. Thiscollection of spatial temperature distributions corresponds to atime-dependent spatial temperature distribution T(Z,t). Its timeevolution is depicted qualitatively in FIG. 25, showing the progressover time of a high temperature zone located at the wafer upon plasmaignition and propagating steadily over time toward the ESC base 5. Thethermal model can produce different temperature distributions T(Z,t) fordifferent hypothetical backside gas pressure values. Using such robustinformation, either the thermal model 288 or the control processor 230can search different distributions T(Z,t) obtained for differentbackside gas pressure settings for the ideal backside gas pressuresetting that provides the desired steady state temperature at the wafer(or other specified location).

The model of FIG. 24 has been described with reference to a lumpedelement technique employing heat transfer equations in which the thermalcharacteristics of each layer is inferred from the layer's dimensionsand thermal properties. However, the thermal response may becharacterized from a set of look-up tables empirically constructed fromprior measurement data that define the layer's response (e.g., thetemperature difference across the layer) as a function of both time andheat flow rate. Such a look-up table represents a three dimensionalsurface depicted in FIG. 26 lying in a space defined by three orthogonalaxes corresponding to heat flow rate, time and temperature differenceacross the layer. Each layer may be thus characterized by one (or more)look-up tables or surfaces of the type depicted in FIG. 26. However,layers whose thermal response can be varied by a user-controllableexternal parameter, such as the wafer-ESC interface layer 292 whosethermal resistance is controlled by the backside gas pressure, are morecomplex. Specifically, each possible setting of the external parametergenerates a different look-up table or surface of the type illustratedin FIG. 26. As illustrated in FIG. 27, two surfaces or look-up tablesrepresent the temperature behavior for two of many possible settings ofthe backside gas pressure by the valve 229. Many such look-up tableswould represent the thermal behavior for a range of backside pressurevalues. The skilled worker can readily generate such look-up tables fora particular reactor design from measurement data.

Referring again to FIG. 23, the thermal model 288 of FIG. 24 may be usedwith the multiple temperature zone reactor of FIG. 13 having multipletemperature zones in independent backside gas pressure control ismaintained and independent coolant evaporators are provide withindependent sets of temperature sensors in each zone, as described abovein this specification. If the thermal model 288 of FIG. 24 is combinedwith the multi-zone reactor of FIG. 13, then the model 288 can consistof plural thermal models 288-1, 288-2, etc., that simulate the differentthermal behavior of the respective plural temperature zones of theelectrostatic chuck 105. Each respective model is employed by the agileand large range feedback temperature control processors of eachtemperature zone in the manner described above for the singletemperature zone reactor of FIG. 7. Thus, the processes of FIGS. 19 and21 are carried out for each temperature zone of FIG. 13 individually andindependently, the process in each zone using the corresponding one ofthe thermal models 288-1, 288-2, etc.

Feed Forward Temperature Control to Compensate for Scheduled RF HeatLoad Changes:

Some plasma process recipes may require changing the RF heat load on thewafer to achieve different process effects at different steps in theprocess, without changing the wafer temperature. The problem is that thethermal mass of the electrostatic chuck imposes a large (e.g., 1 to 2minute) delay between a change in the cooling system's temperature orcooling rate and the consequent effect on wafer temperature. Thus, thelarge range temperature control loop (using the evaporator 200) has sucha slow response that it cannot compensate for sudden changes in the RFheat load on the wafer without permitting a significant drift in wafertemperature before regaining stability. On the other hand, dependingupon the initial RF heat load and ESC base temperature, agiletemperature control through the backside gas pressure valve 229 (e.g.,the agile temperature control loop) might not be able to compensate forlarge changes in RF heat load on the wafer. Specifically, if either theESC base temperature is too high or initial RF heat load is too great,controlling only the backside gas pressure valve 229 (“agile temperaturecontrol”) may not be sufficient to compensate for a sudden largeincrease in RF heat load. Conversely, if either ESC base temperature istoo low or the initial RF heat load is insufficient, then agiletemperature control may not be sufficient to compensate for a suddenlarge decrease in RF heat load.

These problems are solved in accordance with one aspect of the inventionby analyzing (in the thermal model 288) the magnitude and time of thenext scheduled change in RF head load. The thermal model 288 yields acorrection in ESC base temperature which is most likely to compensatefor the RF heat load change and maintain constant wafer temperature. Thethermal model predicts the amount of time it takes for this temperaturecorrection to propagate through the ESC 105 and reach the wafer 110. Thetemperature controller 228 implements the recommended change in ESC basetemperature sufficiently early (based upon the predicted propagationtime) so that the temperature shift in the ESC base reaches the wafer atthe time of the scheduled change in RF power level/RF heat load.

This feed forward feature is illustrated in FIGS. 28A and 28B(hereinafter referred to collectively as FIG. 28) and can be carriedout, for the most part, by the large range control loop and itsprocessor 230. Initially, the thermal model 288 is furnished with thecurrent process conditions, such as the RF power (RF wafer heat load),wafer temperature, ESC base temperature, backside gas pressure, and thelike (block 300 of FIG. 28). If the current plasma processing recipecalls for a change in RF power level to be made at some later time, thenthe magnitude and time of this RF power change is input to the thermalmodel 288 (block 301 of FIG. 28). The thermal model 288 then simulatesthe effects on wafer temperature of this planned change in RF power. Thethermal model 288 is searched for a change in ESC base temperature thatwould precisely compensate for the planned change in RF power level.This is accomplished by changing (at the input 289 to the thermal model288) the ESC base temperature and observing the changing effect on thewafer temperature behavior simulated by the model 288. The ESC basetemperature change that best compensates for the change in RF heat loadis selected (block 302 of FIG. 28). Also, the thermal model 288 cancompute or indicate the transit time required for the temperature changeat the ESC base 5 to reach the wafer 110 (block 303 of FIG. 28). Thecompensating change in ESC base temperature is then made in advance ofthe time of the planned change in RF power by a lead time equal to thebase-to-wafer transit time of the compensating base temperature change(block 304 of FIG. 28). (This advance in timing may be included in thesimulation of the step of block 302.) In order to guard against wafertemperature drift during the period in which the compensating change inESC base temperature propagates from the ESC base 5 to the wafer 110,the agile temperature control loop 229, 230 maintains a constant wafertemperature (block 305 of FIG. 28). If, for example, the compensatingbase temperature change causes a premature drop in ESC puck temperatureprior to the planned change in RF power level, then the backside gaspressure would be automatically decreased by the agile temperaturecontrol processor 230 to decrease heat conductance from the wafer andthereby hold the wafer temperature constant during this period.

Because the compensating ESC base temperature correction is performed inthe step of block 304 well before the planned RF power level change by alead time corresponding to the base-to-wafer transit time, there is anopportunity for the large range temperature control processor 230 tomonitor the propagation of the compensating temperature shift and tomake a number of fine corrections to the base temperature change.Therefore, performance is improved by carrying out an iterativecorrection cycle illustrated in FIG. 28B. This correction cycle caninclude simultaneously monitoring plural temperature sensorsperiodically placed in axial alignment along the Z-axis inside the ESC105, such as the temperature sensors 220, 221 of FIG. 7 (although morethan two axially aligned periodically spaced sensors may be employed inthis step). From such multiple contemporaneous measurements, aninstantaneous temperature profile T(Z) may be deduced (block 306 of FIG.28B). This instantaneous temperature distribution is input to thethermal model 288 (block 307 of FIG. 28B). Using the instantaneoustemperature distribution of the step of block 307 as the updated“initial” condition, the thermal model 288 generates a new updatedversion of the time-evolving temperature profile T(Z,t). From this, thethermal model 288 can predict the behavior of the wafer temperaturearound the time (tc) of the scheduled RF power level change (block 309of FIG. 28A). Using these results, the predicted wafer temperature (orits average) at time tc is compared (block 310 of FIG. 28B) with theinitial wafer temperature to determine whether the corrective actiontaken earlier will cause an overcorrection or an undercorrection in thewafer temperature at or shortly after time tc. If an undercorrection ispredicted (block 311) then the large temperature control loop decreasesthe compensating temperature change at the ESC base 5, and if anovercorrection is predicted (block 312) then the compensatingtemperature change is increased. Thereafter the time is incremented byone cycle time (block 313). If the time has reached tc, the time for thescheduled change in RF power (YES branch of block 314), then the feedforward process is halted and normal temperature control of the wafer isresumed (block 315). Otherwise (NO branch of block 314), the processcycles back to the step of block 306.

FIG. 29 is a graph depicting the time evolution of the spatialtemperature distribution in which the feed forward feature of FIGS. 28Aand 28B responds to a planned step up in applied RF power at a futuretime tc by reducing the ESC base temperature at time t0. At successivetimes (t1, t2, t3, etc.), the step down in temperature propagates towardthe wafer plane in the direction of the Z axis. The maximum temperaturedepression reaches the wafer plane at time tc, so that there is noovercorrection or undercorrection in this idealized example. Thecontemporaneous time plots of FIGS. 30A through 30C depict the effectsof overcorrection and undercorrection. FIG. 30A depicts applied RF poweras a function time, in which a step-up in power occurs at time tc. FIG.30B depicts wafer temperature behavior over time, in which thecorrective step-down in ESC base temperature is undertaken too late orwith insufficient temperature change. In either case, the wafertemperature begins to climb above the desired temperature at time tc andbegins to return toward the desired level only after making asignificant deviation. FIG. 30C depicts wafer temperature behavior overtime, in which the corrective step-down in ESC base temperature isundertaken too earlier or with an excessive temperature change. In sucha case, the wafer temperature begins to fall at time tc, and begins toreturn toward the desired level only after making a significantdeviation. In the ideal case, the wafer temperature remains constantbefore, during and after the RF power step-up at time tc.

Feed Forward Control for Temperature Profiling:

Some plasma process recipes may require changing the wafer temperatureduring plasma processing to achieve different process effects atdifferent steps in the process. With such changes, the process recipemay (or may not) leave the RF heat load on the wafer unchanged. Theproblem is that the thermal mass of the electrostatic chuck imposes alarge (e.g., 1 to 2 minute) delay between a change in the coolingsystem's temperature or cooling rate and the consequent effect on wafertemperature. Thus, the large range temperature control loop (using theevaporator 200) has such a slow response that it may not be able to makesudden wafer temperature changes required by the process recipe. On theother hand, depending upon the initial RF heat load and ESC basetemperature, the agile temperature control loop 229, 230 might not beable to make extremely large changes in wafer temperature that may berequired by the process recipe. Specifically, if either the ESC basetemperature is too high or initial RF heat load is too great, the agilecontrol loop 229, 230 may not be able to carry out a large decrease inwafer temperature required by the process recipe. Conversely, if eitherESC base temperature is too low or the initial RF heat load isinsufficient, then the agile control loop 229, 230 may not be able tocarry out a large increase in wafer temperature required by the processrecipe.

These problems are solved in accordance with one aspect of the inventionby analyzing (in the thermal model 288) the magnitude and time of thenext scheduled change in wafer temperature called for by the processrecipe. If the temperature change is beyond the capability of the agiletemperature control loop 229, 230 (the backside gas pressure control),then the large range control loop 224, 210 (the refrigeration control)is employed to effect the desired temperature change. In this case, thethermal model 288 yields an ESC base temperature change which is mostlikely to effect the desired wafer temperature change. The thermal modelpredicts the amount of time it takes for this temperature correction topropagate through the ESC 105 and reach the wafer 110. The temperaturecontroller 224 implements the recommended change in ESC base temperaturesufficiently early (based upon the predicted propagation time) so thatthe temperature shift in the ESC base reaches the wafer at the time ofthe scheduled change in wafer temperature. Just before this, the agiletemperature control loop 229, 230 (using backside gas pressure))maintains the wafer temperature constant until the scheduled time ofwafer temperature change.

However, if the agile temperature control 229, 230 (backside gaspressure) is capable by itself of making the desired wafer temperaturechange, then the agile control loop 229, 230 is called upon to performthe change at the scheduled time, in which case the large range controlloop 224, 210 can leave the ESC temperature constant or change it inpreparation for a later wafer temperature change.

This feed forward feature is illustrated in the block flow diagram ofFIGS. 31A, 31B and 31C (hereinafter referred to collectively as FIG. 31)and can be carried out by the master processor 232 of FIG. 7 using thethermal model of FIGS. 24-26. Initially, a time value t0 is set to theprocess start time (block 320 of FIG. 31). As the plasma processing ofthe wafer begins and the initial process recipe parameters (chamberpressure, source and bias power, wafer temperature, etc.) areestablished in the reactor, the process recipe is inspected to find thenext scheduled change in wafer temperature and its scheduled time, t1(block 322 of FIG. 31). A determination is made whether the agiletemperature control loop 229, 230 is capable of effecting the plannedwafer temperature change (block 324). This determination can entaildetermining whether the RF heat load on the wafer is sufficiently highif the change is a temperature increase (block 324 a), or determiningwhether the ESC temperature is sufficiently low if the change is atemperature decrease (block 324 b). If the planned temperature change isbeyond the present capability of the agile temperature control loop 229,230 (NO branch of block 324 a or 324 b), then the large rangetemperature control loop 224, 210 is used. First, the thermal model 288is queried to find a change in ESC base temperature that would mostlikely create the desired change in wafer temperature (block 326). Thischange is made (by servoing the expansion valve 210) beginning at timesufficient for the desired temperature change to propagate through theESC 105 and reach the wafer by the scheduled time t1 (block 328).Meanwhile, until time t1, the agile temperature control loop 229, 230 iscommanded to maintain the wafer temperature at the initial temperature(block 330). To do this, the agile temperature control processor 230servoes the backside gas pressure valve 229 (to change the thermalconductance through the wafer-ESC interface) so as to compensate forchanges in the ESC temperature. Then, at time t1, the agile control loopprocessor 230 is commanded to allow the wafer temperature to follow thechange in ESC temperature so as to effect the desired wafer temperaturechange (block 332). The present time is advanced beyond time t1 (block334) and the process cycles back to the step of block 322.

Returning now to the step of block 324, if the agile temperature controlloop 229, 230 is found to be capable of making the desired wafertemperature change (YES branch of block 324 a or 324 b), then theprocess proceeds to the step of block 336, in which the agiletemperature control processor 230 is commanded to wait until time t1 andthen make the desired wafer temperature change (by servoing the backsidegas pressure valve 229). However, prior to time t1, a look-ahead step(block 338) is performed whose main purpose is to ensure timelypreparation of the ESC temperature for a very large scheduled swing inwafer temperature, in order to allow for thermal propagation delaythrough the ESC 105. This step minimizes (or eliminates) the possibilitythat a scheduled large swing in wafer temperature requiring acorresponding change in ESC temperature is not addressed in time toallow for thermal propagation delay from the ESC evaporator 200 to thewafer 110. In the look-ahead step of block 338 of FIG. 31B, the processrecipe is scanned beyond time t1 to find the next change in wafertemperature and its scheduled time of occurrence t2. A determination ismade whether the agile temperature control loop 22, 230 is capable ofmaking this next change. This determination can entail determiningwhether the RF heat load on the wafer is sufficiently high if the changeis a temperature increase (block 338 a), or determining whether the ESCtemperature is sufficiently low if the change is a temperature decrease(block 338 b). If it is determined that the agile temperature controlloop 229, 230 is capable of making the desired wafer temperature change(YES branch of block 338 a or 338 b), then the change is effected byservoing the backside gas pressure valve 229 to effect the desiredtemperature change (block 339). The present time is advanced beyond t1(block 340) and the process cycles back to the step of block 322. If,however, it is determined that the agile temperature control loop 22,230 is not capable of making the desired wafer temperature change (NObranch of block 338), then the ESC temperature must be changed by thelarge range temperature control loop 228, 210, 200, etc., to effect thedesired temperature change. For this purpose, the thermal model 288 isused to determine a change in ESC base temperature that will produce thedesired change in wafer temperature (block 342) and this change isperformed by servoing the expansion valve 210 either at the present timeor at a later time which is, nevertheless, sufficiently early to allowfor the thermal propagation delay through the ESC 105 (block 344) toeffect the needed change by the scheduled time t2. During the interim,the agile temperature control processor 230 is commanded to regulate thewafer temperature (block 346 of FIG. 31C) as follows: From the presenttime until time t1, the backside gas pressure is varied as necessary tohold the wafer temperature constant against any changes in ESCtemperature (block 346 a). At time t1, the backside gas pressure isstepped to make the wafer temperature changed scheduled in the processrecipe for time t1 (block 346 b). From time t1 and until time t2, thebackside gas pressure is varied to compensate for changes in ESCtemperature and hold the wafer temperature constant at the newtemperature (block 346 c). At time t2, the agile temperature controlprocessor 230 stops its efforts to hold the wafer temperature constantand allows (by increasing the backside gas pressure to increase thermalconductance) the new ESC temperature to drive the wafer temperature inaccordance with change scheduled for time t2 (block 346 d). Then, thepresent time is advanced past time t2 (block 348) and the process cyclesback to the step of block 322. The process continues in this manneruntil completion of the process recipe.

In the process of FIG. 31, with each successive temperature changespecified in the process recipe, the step of block 324 determineswhether the agile temperature control loop 229, 230 (using backside gaspressure changes) alone is capable of making the desired wafertemperature change, as discussed above. If the answer is always “yes”(at least over a number of successive temperature changes), then the ESCbase temperature can be relegated to a constant role and the onlychanges made are successive changes in the backside gas pressure valve229. This corresponds to the case of the process of FIG. 31 taking theYES branch of blocks 324 a or 324 b over successive iterations. Theresult is illustrated in FIGS. 32A and 32B in which the ESC basetemperature remains at a constant level indicated by the dashed line ofFIG. 32A (e.g., by leaving the expansion valve 210 of FIG. 7 at aconstant setting) while the backside gas pressure (FIG. 32B) is servoedto follow successive changes in the wafer temperature specified by theprocess recipe. The corresponding wafer temperature behavior (solid lineof FIG. 32A) appears as an inverse of the backside gas pressure behavior(FIG. 32B), in the general case in which the ESC acts as a heat sink forthe RF heat load on the wafer. (There is a special but rare case inwhich the required wafer temperature is so high—or the RF heat load isso low—that the ESC 105 is employed as a heat source.) FIGS. 32A and 32Btherefore correspond to a simple mode of the invention in which the ESCbase temperature is held at a constant level while the wafer backsidegas pressure is varied as required by the process recipe. This mode maybe implemented with any cooling device coupled to the ESC 105, such asthe constant temperature refrigeration loop of FIG. 7 of the presentinvention or (alternatively) a conventional prior art refrigerationapparatus.

FIGS. 33A and 33B illustrate base and wafer temperature behavior andbackside gas pressure profile for the case in which the step of 324finds that the agile control loop 229, 230 is not capable of making therequired change in wafer temperature. In this case, the large rangecontrol loop 228, 210, 200, etc., begins to change the ESC basetemperature prior to the scheduled time of change in the step of block328. This causes the ESC base temperature to change (i.e., drop, in thecase of an up-coming temperature change that is a decrease in wafertemperature), as illustrated in dashed line in FIG. 33A. At the sametime, in the step of block 330 the agile control loop 229, 230 holds thewafer temperature constant until the scheduled time of change (solidline of FIG. 33A). This is done by offsetting the ESC base temperaturechange with a corresponding change (decrease) in backside gas pressure,as illustrated in FIG. 33B. At the time of change, the backside gaspressure is stepped up to enable the wafer to follow the latest changein ESC temperature.

FIGS. 34A and 34B depict the operation of the look-ahead loop of blocks338-346 of FIG. 31. At time t0, the step of block 338 discovers that,even though the agile temperature control loop can make the next wafertemperature change (scheduled for time t1), it is incapable of makingthe subsequent change scheduled for time t2. Therefore, the decision ismade to use the large range temperature control loop 224, 210, 200, etc.of FIG. 7 to effect the desired wafer temperature change. Moreover, inthis example, it is discovered that the required change in ESC basetemperature must begin immediately in order for its full effect to reachthe wafer by time t2. Therefore, the required change in position of theexpansion valve 210 is made at time t0, so that the ESC temperaturebegins to change (e.g., decrease, in this example), as indicated by thedashed line of FIG. 34A. FIG. 34A shows that the ESC temperature (asmeasured near the wafer) reaches the required level just before time t2,and therefore is held at that new temperature thereafter. However, fromtime t0 to time t1, the backside gas pressure (FIG. 34B) decreases inorder to hold the wafer temperature constant, in accordance with thestep 346 a of FIG. 31. At time t1 the backside gas pressure is steppedto a different level to achieve the wafer temperature change scheduledfor time t1, in accordance with the step of block 346 b of FIG. 31. Fromtime t1 to time t2, the wafer temperature is held at this new level byvarying the backside gas pressure to offset the effect at the wafer ofthe changing ESC temperature, in accordance with the step of block 346 cof FIG. 31. Finally, at time t2, the backside gas pressure is restoredto a high thermal conductance level to permit the new ESC temperature tobring about the change in wafer temperature scheduled for time t2.

Feed Forward Temperature Control to Compensate for Scheduled RF HeatLoad Changes Using Both Agile and Large Range Temperature Control Loops:

While the feed forward process of FIG. 31 is described as carrying outscheduled changes in wafer temperature, it may be modified to counteractscheduled changes in RF heat load on the wafer. Such a process isillustrated in FIGS. 35A, 35B and 35C, which will now be described. Thefirst step, block 420, defines present time t0 as process start time.The next step, block 422, determines from the temperature profile of theprocess recipe an upcoming change in RF heat load on the wafer itsscheduled time of occurrence (time t1). In the step of block 424, it isdetermined whether the agile control loop 229, 230 is capable ofcounteracting the RF heat load change to keep wafer temperatureconstant. To do this, the following determinations may be made: whetherthe change is an increase in RF heat load, is the present ESC basetemperature sufficiently low (block 424 a); whether the change is adecrease in RF heat load, is the present RF heat load sufficiently highor will the changed RF heat load be sufficiently high (block 424 b).

If it is found that the agile temperature loop is not capable of meetingthe change in RF heat load (NO branch of blocks 424 a or 424 b), thenthe large range temperature control loop 224, 210, 200, etc. controllingthe ESC temperature must be used instead. Therefore, the next step(block 426) is to determine from the thermal model 288 the change in ESCbase temperature required to counteract the change in RF heat load andkeep the wafer temperature constant. This change in ESC base temperatureis then performed (by controlling the refrigeration loop expansion valve210) in time for the temperature change to reach the wafer by or beforetime t1, the scheduled time of occurrence (block 428). In the meanwhile,until time t1, the agile temperature control loop 229, 230 is used tohold the wafer at its present temperature against changes in ESCtemperature (block 430).

At time t1, the scheduled time of the RF heat load change, the agiletemperature control loop processor 230 allows the changed ESCtemperature to counteract the RF heat load change (block 432). The timeindex (present time) is then advanced beyond time t1 (block 434) and theprocess loops back to the step of block 422.

If the step of block 424 determines that the agile control loop 229, 230is capable of meeting the change in RF heat load (YES branch of blocks438 a or 438 b), then later, at time t1, the agile temperature controlloop 229, 230 changes the backside gas pressure to meet the change in RFheat load (block 436). Meanwhile, prior to time t1, the process looksahead (in the RF power time profile of the process recipe) to the next(e.g., second) scheduled change in RF heat load and its scheduled timeof occurrence (time t2) and determines whether the agile control loop229, 230 is capable of counteracting this next RF heat load change(block 438). This determination is carried out in much the same manneras the step of block 424. If the determination is positive (YES branchof block 438), then no action is taken, and time is advanced beyond thecurrent time t1 (block 440) and the process loops back to the step ofblock 422.

Otherwise, if it is found that the agile control loop 229, 230 cannotmeet the change in RF heat load scheduled for time t2 (NO branch ofblock 438), then the large range temperature control loop controllingESC temperature must be used instead. Therefore, in the next step, thethermal model 288 is used to determine the change in ESC basetemperature required to counteract the next RF heat load change (i.e.,the change scheduled for time t2) to hold the wafer temperature constant(block 442). This change in ESC base temperature is then performed bythe large range control loop 224, 210, 200 in time for the temperaturechange to reach the wafer by or before the scheduled time (time t2) ofnext change in wafer temperature (block 444). During this time the agiletemperature control loop 229, 230 regulates the wafer temperatureagainst the changing ESC temperature (block 446). It does this asfollows: hold the wafer temperature constant until time t1 (i.e., maskchanges in ESC temperature with changes in backside gas pressure) (block446 a); at time t1, compensate for the RF heat load change scheduled fortime t1 (i.e., step the backside gas pressure to a new level) (block 446b); hold the wafer temperature constant after time t1 and until time t2(i.e., mask changes in ESC temperature with changes in backside gaspressure) (block 446 c); at time t2, allow the change in ESC temperatureto counteract the RF heat load change scheduled for time t2 (i.e.,increase the wafer-ESC thermal conductance by increasing the backsidegas pressure) (block 446 d). Thereafter, the present time index isadvanced beyond time t2 (block 448) and the process loops back to thestep of block 422.

Simultaneous Control of Scheduled Changes in RF Heat Load and WaferTemperature:

In some applications, it may be necessary to accommodate,simultaneously, a certain wafer temperature profile over time specifiedby the process recipe (such as the complex profile of the solid line ofFIG. 32A) and a complex RF power (or wafer heat load) profile over timethat may vary in a manner completely different from the temperatureprofile. In other words, a complex wafer temperature time profile mayhave to be implemented while accommodating scheduled swings in RF heatload on the wafer. This can be achieved by operating the RF heat loadfeed forward loop of FIGS. 28A-B and the temperature profile feedforward loop of FIG. 31 together, using the master processor toarbitrate or superimpose different control commands from the two feedforward loops addressed to the large range control loop processor 224(governing the expansion valve 210 of FIG. 7) as well as differentcontrol commands from the two feed forward loops addressed to the agilecontrol loop processor 230 (governing the backside gas pressure valve229 of FIG. 7). Such a combination is depicted in FIG. 36 discussedbelow.

In FIG. 36, the two feed forward processes (of FIGS. 28 and 31) areimplemented simultaneously based upon temperature measurements from thereactor forwarded through the master processor 232. In FIG. 36, the RFheat load feed forward process 350 (corresponding to FIG. 28) isfurnished with the schedule 351 of changes in RF power or heat loadspecified by the process recipe. The temperature profile feed forwardprocess 352 (corresponding to FIG. 31) is furnished with the schedule353 of wafer temperature changes specified by the process recipe. Thisproduces simultaneous commands for adjustments to the refrigeration loopexpansion valve 210 and simultaneous commands for adjustments to thebackside gas pressure valve 229. The master processor 232 combines thesesimultaneous commands and forwards them to the expansion valve 210 andthe backside gas pressure valve 229 through the large range controlprocessor 224 and the agile control processor 230 respectively.

While the invention has been described in detail by specific referenceto preferred embodiments, it is understood that variations andmodifications thereof may be made without departing from the true spiritand scope of the invention.

1. A plasma reactor, comprising: a reactor chamber and an electrostaticchuck having a surface for holding a workpiece inside said chamber andhaving respective inner and outer zones; inner and outer zone backsidegas pressure sources coupled to said electrostatic chuck for applying athermally conductive gas under respective pressures to respective innerand outer zones of a workpiece-surface interface formed by a workpieceheld on said surface; inner and outer zone heat exchangers coupled tosaid respective inner and outer zones of said electrostatic chuck; innerand outer zone temperature sensors coupled to inner and outer zones ofsaid electrostatic chuck; a memory storing a schedule of changes in RFpower; a thermal model capable of simulating heat transfer through saidinner and outer zones, respectively, to said surface based uponmeasurements from said inner and outer temperature sensors,respectively; inner and outer zone first control processors coupled tosaid thermal model and governing said inner and outer zone backside gaspressure sources, respectively, in response to predictions from saidmodel of changes in said respective pressures that would compensate forthe effect of the next scheduled change in RF power in each respectiveone of said zones.
 2. The reactor of claim 1 further comprising: innerand outer zone second control processors coupled to said thermal modeland governing said inner and outer zone heat exchangers, respectively,in response to predictions from said model of changes thermal conditionsin or near said inner and outer zones, respectively, that wouldcompensate for the effect of the next scheduled change in RF power ineach respective one of said zones.
 3. The reactor of claim 2 whereinsaid model comprises: plural cascaded simulation elements representingthermal properties of corresponding layers of said electrostatic chuckfor each one of said inner and outer zones.
 4. The reactor of claim 3wherein each of said simulation elements of said model comprises a heatcapacitance value and a thermal resistance value representative of thecorresponding layer of said electrostatic chuck for each one of saidinner and outer zones.
 5. The reactor of claim 1 further comprising anoverhead electrode, a plasma source power RF generator, an impedancematching tuning stub having a stub resonant frequency and coupledbetween said plasma source power RF generator and said overheadelectrode, said overhead electrode forming a resonance with plasma insaid chamber at a plasma-electrode resonant frequency, saidplasma-electrode resonant frequency, said stub resonant frequency andthe frequency of said plasma source power RF generator being VHFfrequencies that are nearly equal with a small offset between them. 6.The reactor of claim 1 wherein said electrostatic chuck comprises: aninsulating puck layer having a top surface for receiving a wafer; aconductive base layer supporting said insulating puck layer; an ESCelectrode buried in said insulating puck layer; a bias power feedconductor extending axially through said base and puck layers of saidelectrostatic chuck and having a top end connected to a feed point ofsaid ESC electrode and a bottom end coupled to said RF plasma bias powergenerator; and a plurality of dielectric cylindrical sleeves surroundingrespective portions of said bias power feed conductor and havingrespective lengths and dielectric constants that optimize uniformity ofelectric field distribution across said top surface of said insulatingpuck layer.
 7. The reactor of claim 1 further comprising a dielectricring lying on or in a plane of said top surface of said puck layer andsurrounding a circumference corresponding to a workpiece diameter ofsaid electrostatic chuck, said dielectric ring having a dielectricconstant enabling said ring to compensate for RF edge effects over saidelectrostatic chuck during plasma processing of a workpiece.
 8. Thereactor of claim 1 wherein said electrostatic chuck comprises an upperinsulating puck layer having a top surface for supporting a workpieceand a lower conductive base layer, and an axially extending cylindricalprobe hole through said base layer and through a into said puck layer,and wherein at least one of said inner and outer zone temperaturesensors comprises: an upper probe comprising: an elongate opaqueinsulative cylindrical upper probe housing extending axially into saidprobe hole beginning at a bottom end of the upper probe housing andterminating at a top end of the upper probe housing, said top end beinglocated at a top end of said probe hole beneath said top layer, saidbottom end being located at a bottom opening of said probe hole; anoptically responsive temperature transducer within said upper probehousing at said top end; an optical fiber having a top end coupled tosaid optically responsive temperature transducer and extending axiallythrough said upper probe housing.
 9. The reactor of claim 8 wherein saidone temperature sensor further comprises a lower probe comprising: anelongate cylindrical lower probe housing extending axially from a topend facing and contacting said bottom end of said upper probe housing;an optical fiber having a top end coupled to a bottom end of saidoptical fiber of said upper probe and extending axially through saidlower probe housing.
 10. The reactor of claim 8 wherein said upper probehousing has a diameter less than a Debeye length of a plasma in saidreactor.
 11. The reactor of claim 9 wherein said one temperature sensorfurther comprises: an upper coil spring biasing said upper probe housingtoward said top end of said probe hole; and a lower coil spring biasingsaid lower probe housing toward the bottom end of said upper probehousing, said upper coil spring having greater stiffness than said lowercoil spring.